Farmers harvest paddy on moonlit night

As blazing heat disrupts people’s daily lives across the country, the Boro farmers of Shariatpur are having difficulties harvesting ripe paddy during the day, prompting them to harvest paddy during the night. According to Shariatpur’s Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources, boro paddy has been cultivated on 25,526 hectares in six upazilas of the district in the current season. Out of this, Boro paddy was cultivated on 5,585 hectares in Sadar upazila, 5,420 hectares in Naria upazila, 1,151 hectares in Zajira upazila, 4,650 hectares in Bhedarganj upazila, 3,821 hectares in Damudya upazila, and 4,898 hectares in Gosairhat upazila. Last year, 25,190 hectares of land were cultivated in the district, where the production was 115,906 metric tonnes. More land has come under cultivation compared to last year. In the current season, the target of Boro paddy production in the district has been set at 117,627 metric tonnes. However, the DAE believes that the ongoing heatwave will adversely affect rice production. Mizan Shikder, a farmer of the Angara Union of Sadar Upazila, said that this year he cultivated Boro paddy on 80 percent of the land. He is very happy because the yield is good. The main problem surfaces after the paddy ripens. Many farmers did not agree to harvest in the daytime because of the ongoing heatwave. So, he thought of harvesting paddy at night. With four farmers, he started harvesting paddy on a moonlit night. The paddy harvesting continued from 9pm to 5am. Azizul Islam, a farmer in the Angaria area, said, “I started harvesting paddy at night. Many workers refused to harvest in the daytime due to the fear of heatstroke. So, I started harvesting paddy at night. I think this is the best time for harvesting as the weather remains favourable during the night.” “Working in excessive heat poses a health risk to the farmers. Those who are working in the fields this summer should drink plenty of fresh water and rest under the shade,” DAE’s Additional Deputy Director (Horticulture) Mohammad Riazur Rahman said. Regarding the farmers harvesting paddy at night, he said, “Currently farmers are harvesting paddy at night to avoid heatstroke. But it is possible to avoid heatstroke if they use our harvester machines. Using these, they can collect paddy faster.”
Published on: 2024-04-27 04:27:54.311728 +0200 CEST