Erratic rainfall in Bangladesh during the peak June-July monsoon period, in what experts blame an adverse impact of climate change on the world's largest delta, plays havoc on its agriculture.
The entire country has so far witnessed 68-per cent lesser rainfall this July.
In June, three divisions saw 56-68 per cent higher rain that caused flood and other regions 30-48 per cent lesser experiencing drought during this peak Aman seedling and Aus growing periods, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.
Both drought and flood at a time hit hard rice and other crop farming for such deviation in this kharif period that produces 45 per cent of rice and 40 per cent of vegetable, posing a threat to food security.
Heavy floods have severely affected Aman farming in half of their suitable lands in 11 districts in the entire Sylhet and parts of Mymensingh and Rangpur divisions, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
On the other hand, drought in June and July in most parts of the country also hits farmers who are going for supplementary irrigation this monsoon.
Aman crop that comprises 38 per cent of the national rice demand is mainly rain-fed as the process of preparing seedbeds for transplanting seedlings is almost over during the peak June-August rainy season.
Farmers in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Dhaka and parts of Rangpur divisions have to spend an extra Tk 6,000-8,000 per hectare as irrigation costs for low rainfall in June and July during the peak seedling time.
Golam Faruque, a farmer at Naogaon's Sapahar locality, says there was no rain since the last week of June.
Most of his fellow farmers are watering seedbeds through diesel-run shallow tubewells at Tk 7,000 per hectare, he adds.
Mr Faruque says transplantation of seedlings will begin from the second week of August and the lands will be needed to be prepared with six inches of deep water.
The farmers in Kushtia, Khulna, Jashore, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Barishal and parts of Rangpur districts share the same experience.
Safiar Rahman, a Kaliganj farmer from Jhenidah tells the FE that random load-shedding has also been hampering irrigation in many areas.
Irrigation charge has been increased notably as pump operators have switched to diesel, he says.
Despite having supplementary irrigation, Aman rice varieties would need rain water for better growth.
Mr Rahman says August-September rains have great impact on getting a bumper.
If drought persists, production might drop 10-15 per cent depending on varieties.
The government has set a target to bring 5.65-million hectares of land under Aman farming to produce 15.5-million tonnes of rice this fiscal year which was a record 14.7-million tonnes in FY22.
A total of 0.25-million hectares of seedbeds have so far been prepared countrywide against a target of 0.26-million hectares, according to DAE.
Meanwhile, Aus farming that contributes 7.0-8.0 per cent of the total rice supply, has severely been affected amid drought and flood.
Aus season starts in April and harvest is done during the July-August period.
DAE data shows nearly 60,000 hectares of Aus land in Sylhet, Mymensingh and Rangpur regions have been damaged by floods during the May-June period.
The total Aus area might have shrunk to below 1.15-million hectares in 2022, projects the DAE.
The Agro-Met division of BMD said rainfall across the country was only 6831 mm in July so far against normal rain of 21,347 mm, which is 68-per cent lesser rain.
Rajshahi division during the period got 418 mm, which is 77-per cent lesser rainfall.
The Met office rainfall data further shows Khulna, Rangpur and Dhaka divisions also witnessed 70-71 per cent lesser rain from July 01 to 25.
Even Chattogram and Sylhet divisions witnessed 30-70 per cent lesser rain in July.
Meanwhile, Sylhet, Rangpur and Mymensingh witnessed 61-68 per cent higher rainfall in June.
According to weathermen, rainfall has increased notably in many regions from the beginning of the fourth week of July.
The three-month climate outlook of the BMD forecasts normal rainfall in August.
Meteorologist Dr Sadequl Alam says the country also witnessed much lesser rain in July 2021.
Weather gradually changes but it has become random for the past one decade, he adds.
According to Dr Alam, climate change is a cause for such rapid transforms in rain patterns.
Agrarian Research Foundation chairman Prof Dr Abdul Hamid says Indian river-dams upstream have been intensifying the impacts of climate change.
These dams are the major reasons for both flood and drought in Bangladesh as water blockage during dry season has brought devastation for ecology and agriculture, he observes.
This water withdrawal has been raising salinity intrusion alarmingly into Bangladeshi river lines amid weak fresh water flow, Prof Hamid mentions.On the other hand, he argues, the opening of all gates of the dams during rainy season causes flooding every year in Bangladesh.
Prof Hamid suggests that the government prioritise drought and flood issues for the sake of food security.
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