Yellowing Seedlings Leave Chandina Farmers Worried After Heavy Rains

In Cumilla's Chandina, rice seedlings prepared for planting during the Paush season are turning yellow and wilting close to the soil following several days of continuous rainfall. Seeing such conditions in the seedbeds right at the beginning of the season, local farmers are passing their days in extreme disappointment. They fear a severe yield loss if the crops cannot be transplanted in time.A visit to various unions across the upazila revealed that farmers had meticulously prepared their seedbeds with the aim of planting Paush rice. However, following the recent prolonged rainfall, the natural growth of the seedlings has ground to a halt. The leaves of the seedlings are gradually turning yellow, and their stems are weakening, causing them to collapse onto the soil. The sight of the damaged seedbeds has left deep anxiety visible on the faces of the farmers.Speaking with local farmers, it was learned that this issue during the peak Paush planting season has thrown them into fresh trouble. Many farmers had prepared their seedbeds using their hard-earned savings or loans. If these seedlings are completely destroyed, most farmers lack both the time and financial capacity to prepare new ones. As a result, they fear it will be impossible to transplant rice into the fields on schedule. Most importantly, farmers had no clear idea why the seedlings were suddenly dying or wilting into the soil, leaving many bewildered by the onset of this unfamiliar disease.Addressing the farmers' concerns, Md. Jalal Uddin, Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer of Maijkhar Union, stated that this is primarily a fungal disease. He explained that when farmers sow or broadcast seeds in the seedbed, the seeds are often not treated. Due to the lack of seed treatment, fungal attacks occur after heavy rainfall from pathogens present in the soil or seeds. Stagnant water and damp weather caused by the continuous rains have accelerated the spread of the fungus, causing the seedlings to turn yellow and sink downward.However, the agriculture officer advised farmers not to panic in this situation. He assured them that there is no need to fear and that the seedlings will return to normal with the right steps. He recommended that farmers urgently consult sub-assistant agriculture officers and apply approved fungicides in the correct dosage to their seedbeds. He also advised arranging proper drainage to remove excess water from the seedbeds. He reassured that with timely advice from the agriculture department and the application of specific fungicides, this crisis can be resolved quickly.