That the unusually heavy rains have caused extensive damage to crops in several districts in the country's north does not augur well for the nation. A few tuber crops apart, this region also specialises in cultivating maize and wheat. There is a proverb that makes round among the farming communities, according to which if there is rain at the end of Magh (the last month of winter on Bangla calendar), it is a blessed land under a highly acclaimed king. But here the rain has unfortunately been responsible for a reversal of farmers' fortunes. The reasons are for all to see: first, the heavier than the rains experienced before in winter have this time continued for one and a half days. Usually there are short spells of rain during this season. More importantly, cropping patterns have radically changed. Not only have wheat and maize been introduced to agriculture but high yielding varieties of paddy developed in laboratories such as IRRI and Boro have almost elbowed out the traditional Aman, Aus and Deegha.
The Bogura, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Pabna belt has by now made steady progress in cultivation of tuber crops such as potato, onion and garlic. As potato is experiencing market slumps over the past few years and onion fetching exorbitant prices almost every year, the preference for cultivation of the latter is a foregone conclusion. Farmers have naturally made their best choice and no wonder the country is on the verge of producing enough onion to meet its consumption need. Now stagnant water in potato, onion and garlic fields will damage or destroy the crops which are a fortnight to three weeks away before harvesting. Some potatoes can be saved, although those have to be harvested before maturity. But immature onion and garlic cannot be preserved even if those are harvested before time.
So far as wheat and maize are concerned, they would not suffer on account of rain but it is the gusty wind that has caused damage to the young plants. So has the wind spoiled standing mustard plants. Clearly, production shortfall of corn along with potato and spice cum vegetables is on the cards. Right at this moment the country is smarting from unrelenting inflation. Loss of crops ---no matter if it is due to a natural vagary, one that according to a contemporary is once in a hundred years' time ---is likely to trigger the inflationary trend even further. At a time the worst sufferers during the pandemic are yet to get over the economic and livelihood shocks, the likely market volatility will give them a nightmarish time.
As for the farmers in that region feared to be at the receiving end as a result of crop damages, there will be no consolation. They were just making a turnaround on the strength of bumper paddy harvest this season after the loss sustained for a couple of years before on account of floods. From that time the country's staple has become dearer with the millers still unwilling to let go the stranglehold on the rice market. Growers of paddy and other crops still do not get the financial benefits they deserve. Crop losses at times leave them financially broke. To avoid such tragedies, there is no alternative to introducing crop insurance. If farmers live, the nation not only lives but also prospers.
