How is Chaitra’s hailstorm impacting agricultural lands across Bangladesh?

The unseasonal rain in the Bangla month of Chaitra that was experienced in many areas of Bangladesh for the last few days did not cause any damage to agricultural lands, according to some agricultural experts.

Rather the amount of rain that has fallen on the lands has been a positive impact for the paddy fields in different areas, believe the concerned government officials and experts.

However, they also express their fear that if there is excessive rain and hailstorm, it may damage the buds of mango trees. 

The officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said these things based on the information received from all over the country till Sunday afternoon.

On the other hand, mixed responses and reactions were obtained talking to farmers in different parts of Bangladesh.

It has been raining in various parts of the country, including the capital, for the past few days. Dhaka city also witnessed hailstorms on Sunday night. There were also some reports of hailstorms outside the capital.

Some farmers in the Sylhet area said that this rain has been good for Boro paddy. 

Abu Jafar Md Obaidullah, a resident of Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj district, said that the district experienced light rain on Saturday night.

“A couple of hails also fell. But it is very beneficial for the paddy field. There were also hailstones with rain. But it is very beneficial for the paddy field.”

However, the farmers of several other areas said that this rain has caused damage to the lands where mustard and onion have been cultivated.

When asked about this, Shaheen Alam, an onion cultivator in Pabna, said that all the onions in the field have not grown yet. There are many onions left in the field. Rainwater has accumulated in the fields. It is damaging the onion.

Afzal Mia, another farmer of Pabna, also said the same thing. 

He said that there is mustard in the field. Not all crops have been harvested yet. The rains have caused some damage to these crops.

No damage reported to agriculture 

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has not received any news of any damage to agriculture caused by the rains of the past few days.

As of Sunday afternoon, the responsible monitoring wing of the organization received information from all parts of the country, but there was no report of any damage. 

Responding to a question by , Tajul Islam Patwari, director of Field Service wing of the DAE, said: "We prepare reports on the basis of information received from all over the country. As far (till Sunday 4pm) as far as I am aware, there has been no report of damage.”

On the other hand, rain in some areas has been good for paddy fields. There was less damage to agriculture. However, due to the hailstorm in the capital, there is a high risk of the mango buds falling away, said the DAE official.

Abu Zafar Al Monsur, deputy director of the monitoring department of the Field Service wing, said,: “There have been reports from many places that the rain has benefitted farmers as their paddy fields receive water. However, if there is hail, it will be negative in the case of mango buds.”

When asked about this, Agriculture Minister Abdus Shahid said that no information has been received so far about the damage to the field crops due to the rain in this season. However, it is normal that a hailstorm will damage the mango buds. 

He said that this rain has benefited the boro crop in the field.