Anisul Islam Noor :
The country’s agriculture sector has been affecting by on-going cold wave, which pushes price hike of vegetables again.
Experts said, if the cold weather prolonged, the Boro seedlings and other winter crops and vegetable would be affected badly.
According to Met office, the current mild cold wave, sweeping over most regions of the country, is likely to continue throughout January while the moderate cold wave hitting certain regions might abate within two or three more days.
“The moderate cold wave severity with minimum temperature at 6.1-8.0 degree Celsius is likely to abate by the next two or three days,” said Mizanur Rahman, a meteorologist at Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
“But the mild cold wave situation, severity with minimum mercury level at 8.1-10.0 degree Celsius, may continue throughout this month over a few regions of the country,” he said.
On January 8, Tentutlia witnessed record low temperature at 2.6 degree Celsius.
“If the present cold spell
continues for some more days, Boro seedlings will die. Besides, the leaves will turn yellow. So, farmers have to protect their seedlings from the cold by covering them with polythene,” said Dr Rumena Yasmeen, Principal Scientific Officer (PSO) and head of the plant physiology division of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).
She added that the production of the seasonal crops might fall far behind target because of the ongoing cold and fog.
The Agriculture field officers have been working to assess the damage to Boro seedbeds due to the ongoing cold wave, said Alhaz Uddin Ahammed, Additional Director (monitoring and implementation) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
A total of 2,84,077 Boro seedbeds are being prepared in the country to cultivate 47.05 lakh hectares this season, Tajul Islam, DAE’s deputy director (field service wing) said.
Climate expert Professor Ainun Nishat said, the sea level continues to rise at a rate of just over one-eighth of an inch (3.4 mm) per year due to a combination of melting glaciers and ice sheets, and thermal expansion of seawater as it warms.
He warned that the intensity and frequency of unseasonal climate changes would increase gradually. “It is becoming totally unpredictable to predict nature’s behaviour. Now rain is falling in the month of Chaitra instead of Ashar or Srabon,” he said.
The ongoing cold wave in the country is definitely related to climate change. The unprecedented cold condition is a slow onset of climate disaster in the country, said Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust (COAST).
Extreme weather conditions have increased in the country, which is now witnessing three seasons instead of six, he said, adding that the erratic weather conditions would increase with the increase in global temperature.
The price of some vegetable increased by Tk 10 to 40 per kg and Tk 10 to 20 per piece on Sunday in Dhaka city’s kitchen markets. Talking with the reporter at Karwan Bazar, retired government employee Abu Taleb Khan expressed his dissatisfaction as he failed to buy all desired vegetables due to price hike by Tk 10 to 40 per kg on Sunday.
And the vendors say that due to dense fog, the transport of vegetables is being reduced. Because the supply is lower in the market, they bought at higher rate from wholesale hub, which is also forced them to sell at a higher price.
Department of Agricultural Extension said that vegetables from Bogra, Jessore and Rajshahi are supplied to the whole country, including the capital city. Outside of this, vegetables are also grown around every region.
Agriculture insider said, generally the production of winter vegetables usually begins in the winter ahead. Initially the prices were high but later it gradually decreases. It is seen, prices decrease at this time. But due to late rain, the production of vegetables was delayed.
The buyers have to wait at least two more weeks or early February to buy vegetables at low prices, they said.
The country’s agriculture sector has been affecting by on-going cold wave, which pushes price hike of vegetables again.
Experts said, if the cold weather prolonged, the Boro seedlings and other winter crops and vegetable would be affected badly.
According to Met office, the current mild cold wave, sweeping over most regions of the country, is likely to continue throughout January while the moderate cold wave hitting certain regions might abate within two or three more days.
“The moderate cold wave severity with minimum temperature at 6.1-8.0 degree Celsius is likely to abate by the next two or three days,” said Mizanur Rahman, a meteorologist at Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
“But the mild cold wave situation, severity with minimum mercury level at 8.1-10.0 degree Celsius, may continue throughout this month over a few regions of the country,” he said.
On January 8, Tentutlia witnessed record low temperature at 2.6 degree Celsius.
“If the present cold spell
continues for some more days, Boro seedlings will die. Besides, the leaves will turn yellow. So, farmers have to protect their seedlings from the cold by covering them with polythene,” said Dr Rumena Yasmeen, Principal Scientific Officer (PSO) and head of the plant physiology division of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).
She added that the production of the seasonal crops might fall far behind target because of the ongoing cold and fog.
The Agriculture field officers have been working to assess the damage to Boro seedbeds due to the ongoing cold wave, said Alhaz Uddin Ahammed, Additional Director (monitoring and implementation) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
A total of 2,84,077 Boro seedbeds are being prepared in the country to cultivate 47.05 lakh hectares this season, Tajul Islam, DAE’s deputy director (field service wing) said.
Climate expert Professor Ainun Nishat said, the sea level continues to rise at a rate of just over one-eighth of an inch (3.4 mm) per year due to a combination of melting glaciers and ice sheets, and thermal expansion of seawater as it warms.
He warned that the intensity and frequency of unseasonal climate changes would increase gradually. “It is becoming totally unpredictable to predict nature’s behaviour. Now rain is falling in the month of Chaitra instead of Ashar or Srabon,” he said.
The ongoing cold wave in the country is definitely related to climate change. The unprecedented cold condition is a slow onset of climate disaster in the country, said Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust (COAST).
Extreme weather conditions have increased in the country, which is now witnessing three seasons instead of six, he said, adding that the erratic weather conditions would increase with the increase in global temperature.
The price of some vegetable increased by Tk 10 to 40 per kg and Tk 10 to 20 per piece on Sunday in Dhaka city’s kitchen markets. Talking with the reporter at Karwan Bazar, retired government employee Abu Taleb Khan expressed his dissatisfaction as he failed to buy all desired vegetables due to price hike by Tk 10 to 40 per kg on Sunday.
And the vendors say that due to dense fog, the transport of vegetables is being reduced. Because the supply is lower in the market, they bought at higher rate from wholesale hub, which is also forced them to sell at a higher price.
Department of Agricultural Extension said that vegetables from Bogra, Jessore and Rajshahi are supplied to the whole country, including the capital city. Outside of this, vegetables are also grown around every region.
Agriculture insider said, generally the production of winter vegetables usually begins in the winter ahead. Initially the prices were high but later it gradually decreases. It is seen, prices decrease at this time. But due to late rain, the production of vegetables was delayed.
The buyers have to wait at least two more weeks or early February to buy vegetables at low prices, they said.
