Boro farmers in Chatmohor upazila of Pabna are facing great difficulties in irrigating their lands because of fall of groundwater level due to drought and heatwave.
People were experiencing frequent load-shedding in the upazila due to high temperature while farmers also could not run their water pumps.
Besides, many shallow tube wells cannot bring sufficient water because of fall of groundwater level during summer. Many farmers fear low Boro production this season as they are failing to give sufficient water to their crop land.
Although some parts of the country witnessed rain on Monday, drought-like situation continued in the upazila till filing of the report on Tuesday afternoon.
Chatmohor Upazila Agriculture Office sources said Boro cultivation target was fixed at 9,635 hectares of land for 11 unions and a municipality area in the upazila this season while 9,650 hectares of land have been brought under Boro cultivation.
Meanwhile, harvesting will begin soon in the low-lying areas of the upazila where Boro seedlings were planted early.
Rezaul Karim, owner of a water pump at Bothor village under Beelchalan Union, said he could not irrigate paddy field for around 15 days amid the severe heatwave. As a result, the paddy field has become dry. He also fears low Boro production this season.
Farmer Motiur Rahman of Bothor village said water pump owner could not supply sufficient amount of water to his paddy field due to severe
heatwave. He is not sure whether he will get back the cultivation cost or not.
When contacted, Pabna Palli Bidyut Samity-1 general manager said there are several upazilas under the Samity. Load shedding, which intensified due to huge demand, has come to a tolerable level now, he said.
Chatmohor Upazila Agriculture Officer AA Masum Billah said harvesting of Boro paddy has already begun in low-lying areas. Water pump owners could give sufficient water to their paddy field this year due to fall of groundwater level.
