FROM PAGE B1

“Rainfall was not limited to a single district on any given day, as precipitation occurred in several districts, with only a few stations reporting no rain,” Faruq added.

“The recent rainfall has been beneficial for Boro rice cultivation, particularly in easing irrigation challenges amid the ongoing diesel situation,” said Mohammad Khalequzzaman, director general at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute.

He said such rainfall supports crop growth as long as it is not accompanied by hailstorms, which can cause severe damage.

“While prolonged rainfall can sometimes disrupt pollination, the current short-duration showers during this stage in March are unlikely to pose any risk.”

Khalequzzaman also said that although there were reports of minor hailstorms in some villages, no significant damage has been reported so far, indicating that the overall impact of the recent weather has remained positive for farmers.

Md Ataur Rahman, director general at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, said the recent rainfall has also largely been beneficial for seasonal vegetables, as it has not been excessive or accompanied by storms.

“Most vegetables, such as tomatoes, eggplants, and beans, are currently in the harvesting stage, and the rainfall has not caused noticeable damage,” he said.

He added that only crops like potatoes in poorly drained clay soils may face some risk, while areas with sandy or silty soil have remained largely unaffected.

Rahman also said moderate rainfall at this stage can be helpful for upcoming Kharif cultivation by improving soil moisture for land preparation, although excessive rainfall could create challenges.

He further mentioned that crops like watermelon, bitter gourd, and amaranth are performing well, and while market prices for some produce like watermelon may decrease slightly due to the rain, overall crop quality is expected to remain good.

“The recent rainfall over the past several days has generally been beneficial for Boro rice, though its overall impact is still being assessed,” said Md Jamal Uddin, additional director for monitoring and implementation at the field service wing at the Department of Agricultural Extension.

He added that preliminary information on affected areas is expected soon, but a comprehensive assessment of crop damage and coverage will take another one to two days to complete.

Talking about the government’s fuel rationing decision earlier this month, Jahangir Alam Khan, an agricultural economist, said the decision was understandable given the global oil crisis.

“However, agriculture must receive top priority. Boro cultivation depends heavily on irrigation, with 62–65 percent of land using diesel-powered pumps. Diesel for irrigation should be subsidised, just like electricity for power generation,” he said.

As per Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) data, 15.41 percent of petroleum oil supplied by the corporation in the 2024-25 fiscal year was used in the agriculture sector.