Cold spell affecting agriculture

According to the Met office, another cold wave will sweep through the country after January 20

The ongoing cold spell has not only hit hard the people, especially the poor ones in the northern areas, it will surely damage the crops of the country also. In the past we noticed that when there was severe cold it affected the crops. This year, the mercury dipped to 2.6 degree Celcius in certain areas and the temperature was the lowest in 50 years history of Bangladesh. Intensity of cold has eased a little in the last couple of days, but according to the Met office, another cold wave will sweep through the country after January 20.

Agricultural experts have pointed out that a longer spell of cold may cause Boro seedlings to die and as a result of this, production of the seasonal crops might fall far behind the target. We cannot stop the cold wave, but surely there are measures that can be adopted to minimise the damage tof the crops.

According to a report of this yesterday, a total of 2,84,077 Boro seedbeds are being prepared in the country with a target of cultivation in 47.05 lakh hectares of land this season and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) is presently assessing the damage the cold wave can cause to seedbeds. For minimizing the damage, DAE ought to be all prepared to help the farmer, when possible, to create new seedbeds.

There are some usual problems of our agriculture and intense cold is one among them, as in the northern region cold is usually heavier than the other parts of the country every season—this season the lowest temperature was recorded in Tentulia—and it affects the agriculture of the northern region quite often. That is why the government can very positively take up a project every year to create seedbeds of its own in strategic places so that it can supply seedlings to farmers in times of need.

The problems of Bangladesh’s agriculture are mainly floods, drought or lack of irrigation facilities, salinity of the soil in the southern areas as well as availability of farm inputs including quality seeds, fertlisers and, of course, the traditional way of farming by farmers who do not know how to scientifically cultivate crops.

True, Bangladesh has gone a long way to overcome these problems, but there are times when floods cause real havoc and our agricultural scientists are still to invent rice varieties that can survive for a longer period under water. The same is true for discovering salinity tolerant rice. It will be a real boon, if Bangladesh agriculture can overcome these two problems.

 

Cold spell affecting agriculture

According to the Met office, another cold wave will sweep through the country after January 20

The ongoing cold spell has not only hit hard the people, especially the poor ones in the northern areas, it will surely damage the crops of the country also. In the past we noticed that when there was severe cold it affected the crops. This year, the mercury dipped to 2.6 degree Celcius in certain areas and the temperature was the lowest in 50 years history of Bangladesh. Intensity of cold has eased a little in the last couple of days, but according to the Met office, another cold wave will sweep through the country after January 20. Agricultural experts have pointed out that a longer spell of cold may cause Boro seedlings to die and as a result of this, production of the seasonal crops might fall far behind the target. We cannot stop the cold wave, but surely there are measures that can be adopted to minimise the damage tof the crops. According to a report of this yesterday, a total of 2,84,077 Boro seedbeds are being prepared in the country with a target of cultivation in 47.05 lakh hectares of land this season and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) is presently assessing the damage the cold wave can cause to seedbeds. For minimizing the damage, DAE ought to be all prepared to help the farmer, when possible, to create new seedbeds. There are some usual problems of our agriculture and intense cold is one among them, as in the northern region cold is usually heavier than the other parts of the country every seasonthis season the lowest temperature was recorded in Tentuliaand it affects the agriculture of the northern region quite often. That is why the government can very positively take up a project every year to create seedbeds of its own in strategic places so that it can supply seedlings to farmers in times of need. The problems of Bangladeshs agriculture are mainly floods, drought or lack of irrigation facilities, salinity of the soil in the southern areas as well as availability of farm inputs including quality seeds, fertlisers and, of course, the traditional way of farming by farmers who do not know how to scientifically cultivate crops. True, Bangladesh has gone a long way to overcome these problems, but there are times when floods cause real havoc and our agricultural scientists are still to invent rice varieties that can survive for a longer period under water. The same is true for discovering salinity tolerant rice. It will be a real boon, if Bangladesh agriculture can overcome these two problems.