SIRAJGANJ, Sept 02: T-Aman seedbeds on over 600 hectare of land near Jamuna Bank in Bogura and Sirajganj districts have completely damaged in the recent flood.
A good number of farmers said they did not get fair prices of Boro rice last season, so they wanted to grow T-Aman paddy this season to make some profit. But the flood has faded their dreams.
Farmer Abdur Rahim under Sonatola upazila said, "We have been suffering from acute shortage of T-Aman seedlings. High market price of seedlings has increased production cost."
"T-Aman seedlings of high-yielding varieties like IRRI-52, IRRI-76, IRRI-77 and BR-11 are in great demand. It is hard to collect required seedlings for this season", he said.
During a recent visit to different rural areas of the two districts this correspondent found farmers were purchasing each pone (80 bundles) of T-Aman saplings at Tk 700 to Tk 1000.
Last year, per pone of T-Aman paddy seedlings was sold at Tk 200.
Arup Kumar under Gabtoly upazila said he wants to grow T-Aman paddy on 30 decimals of land this season. At least 280 bundles of saplings are required for the land. But he was able to purchase only a few bundles of seedlings due to excessive market rate.
Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Sirajganj M Arshad Ali said a letter has been sent to the concerned ministry to arrange special incentive to the flood-affected T-Aman growers.
