Diesel shortage halts irrigation in Rangpur, Boro fields dry up

The severe fuel crisis in Rangpur could lead to devastation in its agriculture. A diesel shortage has brought irrigation pumps to the verge of shutting down. Boro paddy fields are drying up due to lack of water, leaving farmers anxious.

The Department of Agricultural Extension fears that production will be heavily disrupted if the land is not irrigated on time. 

Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ruhul Amin has said that diesel supply will be increased quickly to overcome the crisis.

On Saturday, most of the irrigation pumps in Gangachara Upazila were found to have stopped working due to lack of diesel. Water was not being supplied to the land on time. This has raised the risk of crop damage.

Farmers say that regular irrigation is essential for Boro paddy fields. The land is drying up due to lack of diesel. 

Diesel was previously easily available but now they are not getting the required fuel oil even after standing in line for hours at the filling station. 

In many cases, no more than 2-3 litres of oil are being supplied; with which it is not possible to irrigate for even a few hours.

Abdul Malek, a farmer from Gangachara Upazila, said: "If we can't water the land, it will all be over. We are helpless now because we don't have oil."

Another farmer, Sattar Mia, said that when he went to get oil in a bottle, the pump manager said: "It won't be given in a bottle, bring a shallow machine and then he will give you oil."

The irate farmer told bdnews24.com, "Can you take a shallow machine to the pump? How can we, the farmers, spend so much money? If this continues, we will no longer be able to cultivate."

Even then, some farmers are going to the pump with shallow machines to save their paddy fields. The action increases both the time and the cost to farmers.

The DAE that most of the irrigation systems in the Rangpur region are diesel-based. But due to the current crisis, irrigation activities have nearly come to a standstill. This time, the target of Boro cultivation has been set on 132,410 hectares of land in Rangpur. 

Farmer leaders say that if the land is not irrigated adequately during this time, the yield of Boro rice could drop by half.

Blaming the government's failure for the fuel crisis, Anwar Hossain Bablu, a member of the central committee of the Field Workers' Council, said, "The diesel crisis has arisen due to the government's lack of monitoring. Some unscrupulous traders are creating the diesel crisis."

The agricultural labour leader expressed concern that the country will head towards a “famine” if diesel supply is not ensured on time.

Farmers are also not confident in electricity-powered irrigation system, which could have provided to an alternative. Due to frequent power outages, that system is also not being effective. This is further exacerbates the crisis.

Stating that such a situation has arisen due to the impact of the global energy crisis, Rangpur DC Ruhul Amin said that initiatives have been taken to quickly increase diesel supply. In addition, special measures are being considered for farmers.