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High seedling price hampering Irri-boro farming in Lalmonirhat

Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat
Irri-Boro cultivation in five upazilas of Lalmonirhat district is being hampered due to acute shortage of seedlings and their high prices.
Local farmers said many seedbeds and seedlings were damaged this season due to severe cold and dense fog, creating acute crisis of seedlings.
Taking advantage of the situation, unscrupulous traders are doing brisk business by selling seedlings at high prices in local markets, they alleged.
Poor and marginal farmers are facing problems in purchasing seedlings from local markets to cultivate Irri-Boro.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Lalmonirhat, a scheme has been taken up this year to bring 55,282 hectares of land under Irri-boro farming in five upazilas of the district, 97 hectares more than last year's.
“The target of paddy production in the district may not be achieved this year due to shortage of seedlings,” said Abdul Ghoni, sub-assistant agriculture officer in Lalmonirhat DAE.
While visiting different areas of Sadar and Aditmari upazilas recendy, this correspondent found local farmers in trouble due to nonavailability of adequate
seedlings for cultivation.
Farmer Soher Ali, 48, of Mohendra Nagar village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila said, “I prepared Boro seedbeds on 10 decimal of land to cultivate eight bighas of land. But 50 percent seedlings were damaged due to severe cold and dense fog. So I have to purchase seedlings from
local market at high price.”
At least 500 to 520 bundles of seedlings are needed to cultivate one bigha of land (30 decimal), he said, adding that a bundle of 80 to 90 seedlings is now priced at Tk 4 but it was sold atTk 2 last year.
Another farmer Taher Ali, 45, of Bongram village in the same upazila said they pur-
chase seedlings from local market at high prices as their seedbeds were damaged due to cold and dense fog.
Farmer Akmol Hossain of Vadai village in Aditmari upazila said, "I cultivated Irri-Boro on 14 bighas of land last year, but this year I have cultivated the same only on eight bighas of land due to shortage of seedlings
and their high prices.
Seedlings for farming Irri-Boro on one bigha of land cost Tk 24,00 which was Tk 1200 last year, he added.
Azizul Islam, 42, a trader of Noyarhat under Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, “We purchase one bundle of seedlings for Tk 3 and sell it for Tk 4. We make profit of Tk one per bundle.”