FARMERS of Pirojpur district have successfully used marshlands to grow up paddy saplings which would help meet sapling shortage in the waterlogged areas during paddy cultivation. In the district, farmers devoid of sapling during the Boro season as most uplands, where Boro seedlings usually grew, have been used for cultivating Robi crops. The innovation of using marshlands for cultivating saplings will ensure the solo cultivation of Boro in time as the farmers are deprived of Aman for waterlogging. The Agricultural Extension Department under Ministry of Agriculture should encourage the farmers of Pirojpur for inventing this innovative method in cultivation. At the same time, they must take initiatives to make the system popular among the farmers in the flood-prone areas, especially haor areas, to ensure food security.
Usually, farmers across the country grow paddy saplings on plain land and without any serious difficulty, but it is too difficult to find any suitable land available for growing seedlings in waterlogging areas of Pirojpur and some other parts of the country. Sometimes, farmers have to grow the saplings on plain land in distant villages and then carry those to the croplands. The innovative method will be very helpful in marshlands after the recession of water with the advent of winter, the prime time of Boro sapling. During the last Aman season, many farmers in Nilphamari district prepared seedbeds in small water bodies for using them in case of emergency as they faced saplings crisis after the floods last year.
Now, the farmers are ready to face any crisis using saplings from the floating seedbeds and marshlands. The innovation of using marshlands and floating seedbeds will enable the farmers to fight against natural calamity, including prolong flood and water-logging.
We know, Bangladesh is among the most precarious and unpredictable countries due to climate risks. It is frequently suffered from flooding, cyclones, storm surges, along with changing groundwater aquifer situations. The alternative cultivation of sapling of the main crop paddy in the remote area is the starting point to beat the climate change impact on food cultivation. We do urge the government to provide continuous support to the farmers for more innovative methods in this field.
Usually, farmers across the country grow paddy saplings on plain land and without any serious difficulty, but it is too difficult to find any suitable land available for growing seedlings in waterlogging areas of Pirojpur and some other parts of the country. Sometimes, farmers have to grow the saplings on plain land in distant villages and then carry those to the croplands. The innovative method will be very helpful in marshlands after the recession of water with the advent of winter, the prime time of Boro sapling. During the last Aman season, many farmers in Nilphamari district prepared seedbeds in small water bodies for using them in case of emergency as they faced saplings crisis after the floods last year.
Now, the farmers are ready to face any crisis using saplings from the floating seedbeds and marshlands. The innovation of using marshlands and floating seedbeds will enable the farmers to fight against natural calamity, including prolong flood and water-logging.
We know, Bangladesh is among the most precarious and unpredictable countries due to climate risks. It is frequently suffered from flooding, cyclones, storm surges, along with changing groundwater aquifer situations. The alternative cultivation of sapling of the main crop paddy in the remote area is the starting point to beat the climate change impact on food cultivation. We do urge the government to provide continuous support to the farmers for more innovative methods in this field.
