Farmers sowed their seed in the fields in hope of a good yield. But with the ears appearing before the paddy plants had grown normally, about 50 farmers in Baishari union of Naikhongchhari, Bandarban, are now at a loss. They allege that the problem arose after they bought Ranjit Paijam variety seed paddy of Sonali Seed Company Limited from a local trader and planted it on 45 to 50 kani of land.
The farmers say the ears appeared on the plants within only 10 to 15 days of planting the paddy. The clumps of paddy had not grown normally by that time. The leaves and stems of many plants have turned reddish. Far from the yield they hoped for, they are anxious about whether they will even get straw in the end.
This picture was seen on Saturday (September 19) on a tour of various paddy fields in the Joutha Khamar area of Baishari union and the Garjania Barobil area of neighbouring Ramu upazila, Cox’s Bazar.
A visit to the fields showed that in several plots planted with the Ranjit Paijam variety, the ears had come while the plants were still abnormally small. The clumps on many plants had not reached normal size. In places the leaves and stems showed a reddish tinge.
The affected farmers include Md Anisur Rahman, Oli Ahmad, Akbar Ahmad, Abdul Jabbar, Abu Taher, Md Yusuf, Motaleb, Obaidur Rahman, Md Helal Uddin, Abdul Hakim and Hamidul Haque, among about 50 in all.
The farmers said they bought Ranjit Paijam as an improved, high-yielding variety of seed paddy from the shop of the Baishari trader Abdul Karim Bandu and planted it in their fields. They prepared the land and used fertiliser, pesticide and other agricultural inputs according to the method advised when the seed was sold. But with the ears appearing before the paddy plants grew, they are now in uncertainty.
The farmer Md Anisur Rahman said: “I paid money for the seed believing it was an improved variety. I borrowed to plant the land. But the ears came before the paddy plants grew. Now I do not know whether I will get a yield. All our money has gone in the water.”
Md Oli Ahmad, Md Abdul Jabbar and several other farmers said they had spent about 22,000 to 25,000 taka on each kani of land, on seed, land preparation, labour, fertiliser, pesticide and other items. They are anxious about how they will repay their loans if there is no yield.
In their words: “We are farmers. We borrow to plant, we repay the loan by selling the paddy and we run the household. If there is no paddy at all this time, how will our families live?”
Responding to the farmers’ allegations, the Baishari trader Abdul Karim Bandu said he had sold packets of Ranjit Paijam paddy seed to farmers. In his account: “I have learned that most farmers’ paddy has done well. But I have heard that the paddy of a handful of farmers has done badly.”
He added: “I have spoken to the company about the matter. The company’s representative came and inspected the land on the spot. They are giving farmers various advice.”
Responding to the allegation, Sonali Seed Company’s representative Md Shoaib said: “I know about the matter. This kind of problem has occurred precisely because the farmers did not cultivate according to our advice. The paddy of those who cultivated according to our advice is fine so far.”
He claimed the company is giving farmers the necessary advice along with various fertilisers, pesticides and good-quality sprays to use, but that a section of the affected farmers is not following that advice. Md Shoaib said: “I am being pressed over the loss they have suffered. We are looking into the matter on the company’s behalf.”
The affected farmers maintain, however, that they cultivated in accordance with the instructions given by the seed seller and the company. Anger and frustration have built up among them at the ears appearing on the paddy plants within days of planting even so.
Repeated attempts were made to reach the owner of Sonali Seed Company Limited by mobile phone for his comments, but he did not answer the calls, so his comment could not be obtained.
Md Rafiqul Islam, assistant agriculture officer for the Baishari block, said: “We are giving farmers the necessary advice. They have to work accordingly. The affected farmers will have to wait and see to the end.”
Naikhongchhari upazila agriculture officer Md Inamul Haque said: “I had not heard before of the seed paddy being referred to as Ranjit Paijam. I am aware that the cultivation of that seed paddy has not gone well.”
He added: “I have told the sub-assistant agriculture officers to take the necessary measures and to keep the matter under observation. The seed paddy representative has also been told about paying compensation to the affected farmers.”
Those concerned believe testing the seed’s quality and a technical assessment by the agriculture department are needed to verify the farmers’ allegations and determine the real cause of the problem. The farmers allege they have suffered loss because of substandard or unsuitable seed, while the company’s representative claims the problem arose because the farmers did not cultivate according to the company’s advice.
The affected farmers want the real reason for the abnormal early heading of the paddy plants determined through a swift investigation, and proper compensation arranged for them in the light of the scale of the loss.