MOSTAFA SHABUJ

Bangladesh received 31 percent more rainfall than the seasonal average this March, a development that caused crop damage worth Tk 83.39 crore across 16 northern districts, but also provided water for Boro cultivation, saving approximately 2 lakh tonnes of diesel.

Last month, the country received 62 millimetres (mm) of rainfall, exceeding the average of 47 mm, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

Sylhet recorded the highest volume of rainfall: 240 mm, which is more than double the average.

It was followed by Rangpur (123 mm -- more than four times the seasonal norm for the division), Mymensingh (116 mm -- more than triple the average), Dhaka (68 mm -- 45.9 percent above the average) and Rajshahi (54 mm -- 89.6 percent above average).

In contrast, Chattogram, Khulna and Barishal divisions experienced below-average rainfall -- 44.4, 7.9, and 48.6 percent short respectively.

The average national temperature in March was 0.3°C above normal.

Crops on 2,131 hectares were completely destroyed, with potatoes bearing the heaviest damage on 916 hectares.

The other losses included 229 hectares of banana plantations, 78 hectares of vegetables, 628 hectares of maize, 102 hectares of wheat, 10 hectares of sunflower, 7 hectares of onion seeds and 9 hectares of chilli alongside various seasonal crops.

Despite the damage, the excess rainfall proved a boon for Boro paddy farmers, particularly amid the ongoing global energy crisis.

The rain helped save around 2 lakh tonnes of diesel, said Md. Rowshan Alam, additional director (inputs, field wing) of the Department of Agricultural Extension -- an unlikely boon given the ongoing fuel shortage arising from the US-Israeli war on Iran.