Combating heatwave: Farmers in Malda told to leave fields before 11 am

The Department of Agriculture of Malda district has issued an advisory to the farmers against the prevailing heatwave in the state. The temperature in the district has crossed 43°C, which could potentially harm the crops. The farmers as well as the department are now counting on rainfall to save the crops from damage.

“The extreme heat is really bad for crops. We have issued an advisory for the farmers through the block administration for the safety of both farmers and crops. It is expected that the farmers will not face a major setback. The crop insurance will also shield them from a financial loss in case of bad crop production,” said Dibanath Majumdar, Deputy Director of District Agriculture Department.

The department has also called for an urgent meeting through Krishi-Karmadhaksya of Malda Zilla Parishad to review the situation. As stated in the advisory, the farmers are asked to leave the fields before 11 am in order to avoid heatstroke. Regarding the jute production, they are being asked to wait for the rain to plant them.

In case the farmers have planted them already, then they are advised to arrange adequate water for the plantation. For paddy cultivators it has been advised to harvest the 70 to 80 per cent matured Boro paddy to avoid the damage, post hailstorm. However, potatoes and maize have already been harvested before the temperature could cause any damage. The department has also covered maximum farmers under the ‘Bangla Shasya Bima’ to save them from financial loss due to crop loss. Stress has been given to strengthen irrigation facilities for the farmers.