The recent diesel price hike has increased irrigation costs for Aman farmers in Jamalpur, putting additional financial pressure on them during the crucial crop-growing period.
With relatively little rainfall this season, farmers cultivating Aman on higher land have had to rely on regular irrigation. However, the sudden rise in diesel prices has made irrigation more expensive, forcing some farmers to reduce the amount of water they apply to their fields.
In some areas, the lack of adequate irrigation has caused the soil in Aman fields to crack. Farmers fear that delays in irrigation could hamper crop growth and reduce yields.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), around 120,550 hectares of land across Jamalpur’s six upazilas are under Aman cultivation this season. Vegetables and other crops are being cultivated on another 5,000 hectares.
Many farmers in the district depend on diesel-powered irrigation pumps, particularly for higher land. The increase in diesel prices has therefore pushed up their production costs.
Abdul Rahim Mia and Ibrahim Mondal, farmers from Bahadurpur village in Palbandha union of Islampur upazila, said irrigation costs had increased significantly following the diesel price hike. It has become difficult to bear the additional cost at this important stage of Aman cultivation. As a result, they cannot irrigate their fields as needed, they said.
Farmers Kaddus Mia and Abdul Barek of Sirajabad said they were waiting for rain as higher irrigation costs had made it difficult to supply sufficient water to their fields. Insufficient irrigation may disrupt the normal growth of the rice. If yields fall, it will be difficult to recover production costs, they said.
Farmers also said the prices of fertiliser, pesticides, labour and other agricultural inputs had increased. Higher fuel prices have also raised transportation costs for fertiliser and other farm inputs. They fear losses at the end of the season if rice prices do not increase in line with rising production costs.
The farmers have called for measures to make irrigation more affordable and reduce transportation costs of agricultural inputs to ensure uninterrupted Aman cultivation.
DAE Deputy Director Alam Sharif Khan said 120,550 hectares of land had been brought under Aman cultivation in the district this season, while vegetables, including chilli and eggplant, were being grown on around 5,000 hectares.
He said the agriculture department was encouraging farmers to adopt cost-effective and modern irrigation technologies. “Aman farmers are under pressure due to higher irrigation costs. There are concerns that yields may decline if fields do not receive water on time,” he said.
He also added that agriculture officials were regularly visiting fields and providing necessary advice to help farmers achieve their expected yields.