Severe cold threatens Boro paddy seedling output in Kurigram

Kurigram, Jan 1 – A cold snap, disrupting life in the northern part of Bangladesh, will likely damage the Boro seedbeds if the weather does not improve and potentially trigger a seedling crisis.

Mojibur Rahman, a farmer from Kurigram’s Ulipur Dhamsreni union, said half of the seeds could not germinate this season amid the biting cold.
“A seedling crisis seems very likely,” he said, noting that the cold weather has affected most of the seedbeds in the Brahmaputra and Teesta basins.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) targets cultivating 112,015 hectares in the current Boro season.
Farmers have prepared seedbeds in 6,000 hectares. Of them, 1,045 hectares are hybrid, 3,866 hectares Upshi and 190 hectares local seedbeds.
Kurigram DAE official Manjurul Haque said they had given necessary advice to the farmers to save the Boro seedbeds.
“There’s no chance of seedling crisis this season,” he said.
Meanwhile, the mercury continues to plummet in Kurigram making life difficult for the people. The Met Office said the day’s lowest temperature in the district was recorded at 9.2 degrees Celsius.
A cold wave sweeping over the district for the last few days may continue for a few more days. – UNB