Photo : BSS

JHENAIDAH, May 2, 2026 (BSS) - Farmers in Jhenaidah district are facing growing concerns over the fate of their Boro paddy crops as moderate rains and storms threaten to cause significant damage to the ripening fields. 

Despite the promising signs of a bountiful harvest, recent weather conditions have cast a shadow of uncertainty over the final yield.

The golden fields of Jhenaidah, particularly in the upazilas of Kotchandpur, Paschimchanchal, Kaliganj, and Maheshpur, have been filled with ripe Boro rice, offering a hopeful view of a prosperous season. 

However, heavy rains over the past few days have caused significant concerns. Paddy trees in many fields have collapsed, and farmers are increasingly anxious about potential crop losses.

According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), a target of 90,280 hectares was initially set for Boro paddy cultivation this season. However, farmers exceeded this goal, with the area of cultivation reaching 90,291 hectares across six upazilas. 

The department had aimed for a production target of 399,086 metric tons of rice, but the current adverse weather conditions could now impact these projections.

As of now, approximately 24 percent of the total paddy land, or 21,210 hectares, has been harvested. While farmers hope to complete around 80 percent of the harvesting in the next two weeks, continued rains could disrupt their efforts and delay the completion of this crucial phase.

The Meteorological Department has issued warnings for more rainfall and gusty winds in the coming days, with temperatures expected to remain stable. This forecast has intensified the fears of the local farming community, particularly those who have already begun the harvest.

Nazmul Islam, a Boro farmer from Huda Srirampur village in Maheshpur, shared his worries, saying, "The paddy has ripened. But we cannot harvest it because of the rain. Harvested paddy is more damaged by rainwater, and I am very concerned about losing it."

Similarly, Shamim Hossain of Ramnagar village and Sheikh Jasim Uddin from Kumrabaria village echoed these fears. "The yield this time is great, but with the fields still waterlogged, we are struggling to bring in the harvest. If the storm worsens, it will be nearly impossible to salvage the crops," Hossain said.

Rashid Hossain, another farmer from Gurpara village in Kushna union, described the situation as a "race against the weather." "On one side, we have ripe paddy in the field, and on the other, the sky is filled with clouds. We don't know what will happen. The harvest has been promising, but if we can't harvest it in time, it will all be wasted."

The reduced availability of paddy harvesters is another pressing concern. While harvesters have been deployed to low-lying areas, it is difficult to use them in upland fields, making it harder for farmers to complete their work efficiently.

Md. Kamruzzaman, Deputy Director of DAE, expressed cautious optimism, saying, "There has been a massive harvest of Boro paddy in all upazilas this season, and we hope farmers will receive good prices for their crop. However, the biggest challenge now is the weather. If the rains continue or if there is a storm, the problems for farmers will increase."

The DAE has urged its field workers to keep farmers updated on the latest weather forecasts and to prepare them for potential disruptions.

As the storm clouds loom over Jhenaidah, the fate of the Boro harvest hangs in the balance. Farmers are hoping for a break in the weather to secure a successful harvest and avoid losses that could undermine the hard work they’ve put into this year’s crop.