Despite all adversities, the country has maintained food security, thanks to the farmers who continue cultivation despite the challenges faced by the agricultural sector, said Dr Surajit Saha Roy, Director at Agriculture Information Service under the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
He said a difficult situation would arise if farmers abandon cultivation due to obstacles like not receiving proper prices for their crops, stemming from the absence of an effective marketing mechanism.
Dr Surajit Saha Roy shared these views during a recent interview with our Planning Editor Ashraful Islam. He also discussed various aspects of our agricultural sector, including the impact of ongoing heatwaves on cultivation.
When asked about the harvesting of boro paddies, Dr Surajit Saha Roy mentioned that harvesting in low-lying areas, including Haor, is almost complete, with the rest likely to be finished by this week. In the northern region, where paddy saplings are planted later after harvesting potatoes, a few lands may still need harvesting. Additionally, in Khulna and Barishal regions where paddy is cultivated in Ghers, both harvesting and transplanting occur early. Farmers have been instructed to complete paddy harvesting in low-lying areas by May 2, given the forecast of rain that may cause flooding.
Regarding the ongoing heatwaves, Dr Surajit Saha Roy said this is the longest period of heatwave in the country's 76-year history. Aus paddy and jute crops are experiencing some damage as the physiological activity of plants cease at temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.
Dr Surajit said mango yields are unlikely to be affected by the heatwave, rather high temperatures are conducive to fruit ripening. However, he suggested watering the trees to safeguard mango orchards from heat.
In terms of steps taken by the DAE to combat heatwaves, he said farmers are being provided with crucial advice and instructions, and field-level employees are regularly communicating with them. To raise awareness among farmers and help them take necessary steps, the directorate is disseminating videos and leaflets containing guidelines on social media.
Dr Surajit Saha Roy highlighted two contradictory realities emerging in the agricultural sector due to the ongoing heatwave: while dry weather facilitates safe harvesting for paddy farmers, farmers in the northern region are struggling to irrigate lands amid scorching heat, despite the government prioritising power supply for irrigation.
He said the government had not purchased any rice in the last two years and expressed the goal to export rice abroad while maintaining the existing trend.
Addressing inflation, he attributed the price hike of daily essentials mainly to corporate companies and urged the eradication of the syndicate behind market manipulation to create a fairer market for farmers.
He emphasised the importance of farmers' associations in dismantling the syndicate and highlighted opportunities for improvement at the marketing level. For instance, he cited the limited popularity of mustard oil at the consumer level despite its advantages, attributing it to marketing failures.
Referring to population growth as a challenge for agricultural growth, he suggested leasing fallow land in neighboring countries, such as Assam, where vast lands remain idle for cultivation.
Dr Surajit expressed hope that farmers could mitigate the impact of the ongoing heatwave by adopting modern technologies. While acknowledging increased production costs associated with modern technologies, he noted that farmers are willing to invest in cultivation due to favorable market conditions.
Ultimately, he emphasised the need to ensure proper prices for farmers and reasonable prices for consumers, aiming to reduce the dominance of middlemen.
