Statesman News Service
MALDA, 4 JAN: Severe cold has stunted boro paddy in Malda district. The climatic conditions have also caused anxiety among mango farmers. The mango flowering season is scheduled to begin in a fortnight but the mango farmers fear the intense cold would affect the flowering and subsequently the harvest this year.
The cold has affected boro paddy particularly in the Chanchal sub-division discolouring the boro seedlings. The agriculture department officials, however, say that all is not lost yet.
“The cold wave would harm the boro paddy seedbeds but would not affect all agro-production,” assured the deputy director, agriculture department in Malda Mr Satinath Palit.
According to the agriculture department figures, the temperature came down to 5 degree Celsius in Chanchal on 29 December. The temperature was recorded at 7 degree Celsius in English Bazaar as well on that day. Concerned with the conditions, the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh has sought a report from the agriculture department on the prevailing cold wave and its possible effect on agriculture in the district.
Along with the cold has come fog and that has turned mango farmers apprehensive. According to them, the absence of sunlight turns the mango flowers vulnerable to fungus attack, which ultimately affects production. Under the circumstances, mango farmers have started spraying chemicals to keep out the fungus.
According to the horticulture development officer in Malda, Mr Goutam Roy, mango blooms would start appearing about a fortnight later. “This is a tricky situation for if the fog continues, the mango blooms get affected by fungus as it did last year hampering production. Spraying of chemicals would help keep the fungus away and the fog is expected to weaken out after a fortnight,” the official added.
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