Crop farming in south-western part, especially, in greater Jashore and Kushtia might be hampered as the fuel depots have introduced rationing system in supply for two days a week following the second wave of global pandemic Covid-19.
The farmers have been moving here and there to procure diesel for ensuring irrigation on standing croplands for past few days, said the farmers and fuel selling retailers.
When this correspondent visited Cheenatola village of Manirampur and Bagherpara of Jashore, Panti in Kumarkhali of Kushtia and Shailkupa of Jhenaidah came to know that the farmers have been moving here and there with jars to collect diesel for irrigation purposes. But they are retuning almost empty handed or with least supply of the fuel.
Farmer Manirul Islam of Ramchandrapur village of Kumarkhali upazila in Kushtia said he came to purchase diesel from a retailer in Panti Bazer, but was not satisfied over the supply of the same from the retailer.
Farmer Shahidul Islam of Kalicharanpur village in Jhenaidah Sadar upazila said the fuel selling pumps had informed him that they are not able to supply adequate diesel until and unless the rage of corona virus comes under control.
The farmers said inadequate supply of fuel might hamper the irrigation of almost ripen Boro paddy, standing jute and summer vegetables. The crops might be affected badly if they are unable to ensure adequate irrigation water supply in time.
Obaidul Haque Shimul when contacted said the pumps are not supplying adequate diesel for the last couple of days blaming that the fuel supplying depots in Khulna have started rationing the fuel. A good number of farmers have been returning with inadequate supply of diesel, he said.
Shariful Islam, general secretary of fuel suppliers association in Jhenaidah, also an executive committee member of the organization in Khulna when contacted said they have been receiving the supply only two days a week on Monday and Thursday.
The authorities have committed that they will supply the time for Wednesday also until the second phase of lockdown was not withdrawn.
The fuel depots might be opened for at lest five days, and if necessary, they should ensure the supply even on Saturday considering the demand of the farmers, Shariful Islam said.
Additional Deputy Director (ADD) of the department of agriculture extension (crop) in Jhenaidah Mosharraf Hossain when contacted said it was an unwise decision as the farmers could not complete the harvesting of Boro as it was just started very recently. It will take at lest 20 days to bring the last sheaf of paddy home by the farmers.
ADD said the farmers have been struggling with their summer vegetables and newly sowed jute seeds that require huge irrigation water. To ensure the irrigation in present severe drought, there is no alternative to provide water except using diesel.
The DAE official said shortage of irrigation water on the croplands might hamper the production when the government has been working to boost production in agrarian country Bangladesh for a safer food production in the country.
