United News of Bangladesh

Diesel shortage in Bangladesh’s northern districts is disrupting irrigation at a critical stage of the Boro season, raising fears of a drop in rice production and deepening anxiety among farmers. Growers in 16 districts including Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj, said they are unable to irrigate their fields due to a lack of fuel. As vast tracts of cropland are drying up during peak Boro cultivation many fear irreversible damage to the country’s main food crop. The ongoing fuel crunch has left diesel-run irrigation pumps, tube wells and agricultural machinery idle across large swathes of farmland. Farmers allege that most filling stations in Rangpur and Rajshahi regions are either out of stock or unable to meet demand, forcing them to turn to the open market where diesel is being sold at Tk 50–80 above the government-set price. The price surge has added to already rising cultivation costs, pushing many farmers deeper into debt. A visit to Madhupur Char area in Kaunia upazila of Rangpur found the situation particularly severe. Farmers there said diesel prices have jumped from Tk 102 to Tk 120 per litre within the past five days, significantly increasing irrigation expenses. “Costs were already high. Now with rising fuel prices it has become even harder to manage irrigation,” said farmer Saidul Islam. In Shialkhowa village of Kaliganj upazila in Lalmonirhat, farmer Hasim Mia said he failed to find diesel after visiting several filling stations. “I finally had to buy from a local retailer at Tk 220 per litre,” he said. Another farmer from Kakina village, Moslem Uddin, said, “I searched the entire msrket on Friday but couldn’t find even a litre of diesel. My Boro field is drying up,” he said, adding that he was willing to pay up to Tk 250 per litre but still could not secure any fuel. Operators of irrigation pumps said the shortage has made it nearly impossible to continue operations. Many have been forced to increase irrigation charges, further burdening farmers. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), a target has been set to cultivate Boro rice on around 6,52,000 hectares of land this season in five districts—Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Nilphamari-- under Rangpur division and four districts—Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabganj-- under Rajshahi division. Iran-backed Houthis join war, global markets on edge However, with irrigation in these regions heavily dependent on diesel, the current crisis is disrupting water supply across a vast area. Roughly 21 percent of irrigated land in these regions relies on diesel-powered pumps. Of the 21,535 deep tube wells, 615 run on diesel. Among 210,449 shallow tube wells, 98,268 are diesel-operated. Similarly, of the 17,647 low-lift pumps, 11,458 depend on diesel. Agricultural economists have urged the government to prioritise fuel allocation for the farming sector to avert a potential food production crisis. They said the global fuel market has been under pressure due to ongoing Iran-US conflicts, prompting the government to introduce rationing measures. While such steps may be justified, experts stress the need to clearly prioritise critical sectors like agriculture in fuel distribution. Agronomist Abdus Salam said Boro rice is Bangladesh’s principal food grain and is highly dependent on irrigation. “Around 62 to 65 percent of Boro fields rely on diesel-powered irrigation. Ensuring fuel supply to agriculture at this stage is crucial,” he said. He also suggested that similar to electricity, diesel supply for irrigation should be brought under a structured management system to ensure uninterrupted farming during peak seasons. However, additional director Dr Azizur Rahman and additional director Sirajul Islam of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Rajshahi and Rangpur, respectively, claimed they have not received complaints regarding diesel shortages or overpricing and said irrigation activities remain normal. However, farmer said if the fuel shortage continues, irrigation across vast crop fields will be severely affected. Advocate Palash Kanti Nakh, president of Farmer and Workers Association, in Rangpur division, said the government must stand by farmers despite the global nature of the fuel crisis. “Boro cultivation requires adequate water at this stage. Without irrigation, yields could drop by half, pushing farmers into deeper financial distress,” he said. Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Shahidul Islam said efforts are underway to ensure farmers can access diesel more easily. In a move to mitigate the urgent demand of the country, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday approved emergency diesel import proposals amid the unstable Middle East situation. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for the current fiscal year held virtually with Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in the chair. The meeting approved in principle two proposals of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply in the country in the context of the ongoing geopolitical instability following tensions involving in the Middle East.

The government has set a target to procure 4 lakh tonnes of paddy, 12.50 lakh tonnes of boiled rice and one lakh tonne wheat in the upcoming Boro season. The procurement of Boro paddy and rice will start from May 7 and continue till August 31, 2023. The procurement price of Boro paddy has been fixed at Tk 30 per kg, boiled rice at Tk 44 and wheat at Tk 35 per kg. In 2022, the price of paddy was Tk 27 per kg, boiled rice Tk 40 and wheat Tk 28. The price was fixed at a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC) at the cabinet meeting room on Thursday. Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder presided over the meeting, according to a press release of the food ministry. Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tajul Islam, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim attended the meeting. Secretaries to different ministries, including the cabinet secretary, were present in the meeting.

Bangladesh’s current food stock is highest-ever in recent times, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said on Tuesday dismissing any possible food shortage in the coming days. “In spite of the good stocks, efforts are on to increase import of rice to keep the price of the staple under control and ensure food safety,” he told reporters at Naogaon Circuit House. During the Boro season, some 19.50 lakh metric tonnes of rice have been procured until Monday and the procurement drive will end on Wednesday. The Boro procurement target will be fulfilled by the end of this drive, he said. The minister said there is no possibility of a shortage of any kind of food such as rice and wheat as the government has already decided to import wheat from Russia and Ukraine. Read: No bar to import food from Russia, Ukraine: Tipu The government has increased the number of open market sale (OMS) dealers three times for mitigating public sufferings, he said adding the number of OMS centers has been raised  from 813 to 2363. Not only that, the government is going to start open market sale (OMS) of rice from September 1 as per the directives of the prime minister, said Sadhan. The TCB card holders can buy OMS rice showing their cards, while others can purchase rice by showing their NID cards twice a month, said the minister. The authorities concerned will ensure that no person can purchase rice through OMS more than twice. After the launching of OMS service and food-friendly programme, the rice price will come down at a tolerable level after a few days, he hoped.

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Tuesday said legal action will be taken against those involved in selling fertilisers at high prices after creating an artificial crisis. “Legal steps will be taken against those dealers, businessmen and shop owners who are found involved in selling fertilisers at a high price after spreading rumors of a fertilizer crisis as there are plenty of all kinds of fertilisers in the country," he said at a press briefing. Mobile court drives will be conducted in the boro season if needed, he said.  The press briefing was called to explain the overall situation of fertilisers in the country. Razzaque said the mobile court drives will be conducted for the next 30-days to control the market. Read: Onion price will cool down within 15-20 days: Agriculture Minister “Some 8.32 lakh tonnes of urea fertiliser is in stock against the demand of 3.1 lakh tonnes of urea fertiliser in the current month. Besides, 1.92 lakh tonnes of TSP fertiliser, 5.96 lakh tonnes of DAP and 3.12 lakh tonnes of MOP fertilisers are in stock against the demand,” he said.  “We have taken all-out preparation to ensure fertilisers at the local market as fertilisers are needed in this boro season. So, there will be no crisis of fertilisers,” he added. Mentioning abnormal price hike of fertilisers in the international market, the minister said the international syndicate is exploiting countries like Bangladesh. Read: Monga will never return: Agriculture Minister “We are strictly monitoring it and the field-level workers are active in that case," he said. Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, who was present there, urged the farmers not to panic as there is no crisis of fertilisers now.

Cultivation of the rice variety 'Fatema' has started in Alfadanga upazila of Faridpur through a young man named Riazul Islam. While talking to the UNB correspondent, he said that he hoped to achieve bumper yield after cultivating this special variety of paddy on 75 percent of his land. Read Prioritising high-yielding paddy for haor areas: Minister While visiting the site, it was observed that the rice has already started to ripen. Harvesting of paddy will also start soon. Riazul said, ”I first came to know about this variety of rice from a Youtube video. I have  collected  the seeds of Fatema paddy from Labuyat’s mother after waiting for six months.” Also read: Govt to buy 11.50 lakh mts Boro rice It is to be noted that ‘Labuyat’s mother’, the woman from whom Riazul collected the seeds of this variety of paddy is none other than Fatema herself.

The government has decided to procure 11.50 lakh metric tonnes of rice (boiled and non-boiled) and 6.50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the ongoing Boro season. Some 10 lakh metric tonnes of boiled rice will be procured at Tk 40 per kg, 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of non-boiled (atap) rice at Tk 39 per kg and 6.50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy at Tk 27 per kg. Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder came up with the information while talking to reporters at a virtual programme on Monday. Read Govt plans to import rice to keep market stable: Ministry The procurement of boro paddy will start from April 28, rice from May 7 and will continue till August 31. On April 22, the decisions were made at a virtual meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee, chaired by Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder. Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Health Minister Zahid Maleque, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, Enamur Rahman, the state minister for disaster management and relief, among others, attended the meeting through a videoconference. Read Cabinet purchase body approves import of 50,000MT rice Last year, the government set a target to procure 6 lakh metric tonnes of paddy and 11 lakh tonnes of rice during boro season.

A cold snap, disrupting life in the northern part of Bangladesh, will likely to damage the Boro seedbeds if the weather does not improve and potentially trigger a seedling crisis.

 Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Thursday said that the market price of rice is affordable and stable amid the coronavirus pandemic as the government’s paddy and rice collection aim has been fulfilled.

Deputy Commissioner on Tuesday inaugurated the Boro collection with combined harvester machines in Patal Bil area of Sadar upazila.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Monday called upon all to carry out boro procurement activities unitedly to ensure food safety in the post coronavirus situation.