The continuous heavy showers of the last few days have damaged the seedbeds of Aman paddy in nine upazilas of the Khulna.
The seedbeds are submerged as water cannot properly flow due to encroachment and filling up of the canals.
Many farmers, who have used seeds from their own stock to create the first bed of saplings, said they would not be able to make the second bed if water level did not recede. And if such situation occurs, the Aman cultivation in the region would be hampered to a great extent.
Though many of them are trying to build protection around the beds, the 2-3 inches tall saplings are already under water.
Abdul Latif, deputy director of Khulna Department of Agricultural Extension, said they had targeted to grow Aman on 94,000 hectares of land in Khulna this year. And for that seedbeds are needed to be prepared on about 6,000 hectares.
“So far seedbeds on 60 hectares have been damaged. If the water level goes down in next 4-5 days, the saplings will survive,” he said adding that this might not have an impact on achieving the target.
“We have enough seeds to supply to the farmers.”
Former chairman of Magurthali union of Dumuria, Karthik Chandra Manadal, said he would cultivate Aman on about 2 hectares of land in Madurtola and that would require 120kg of seeds.
“My seedbeds have already gone under water due to the non-stop rain. The seeds were of good quality, not hybrid. It is really difficult to get good seeds nowadays,” he said.
Kamrul Fakir, a farmer of Rupsha upazila said he had a small seedbed for his land. But because of the land, the saplings were under water and he had been trying hard to save them.
Chairman of Shobhna union of Dumuria, Sardar Abdul Gani, said the canals running through the fields needed to be dug again to bring back water flow.
The same situation has been prevailing also in Dacop upazila where a total of 760 tonnes of Aman seeds would be needed for the 19,000 hectares of land.
Agriculture officer of Dumuria upazila Nazrul Islam said the farmers were already facing problem as they could not prepare seedbeds in the beginning of the season as there was no rain.
“And now, excessive rain is damaging the seedbeds. The saplings could not grow to the preferred height as the seeds were sown late,’ he said adding that his office was ready to help the farmers if the need be.
