Withering flowers cloud early bean harvest prospects in Jashore

Farmers in Jashore are worried about yield losses as excessive heat and unfavourable weather cause bean flowers to wither and fall off before developing into pods, threatening early-season cultivation.

Early varieties of beans have been cultivated on 117 hectares of land in Jashore Sadar upazila this season, with farmers expecting higher prices by bringing their produce to market before the peak winter vegetable season.

However, the loss of flowers has raised fears of lower production and financial losses, as growers have already invested heavily in seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation and trellises.

Anisur Rahman, a farmer from Haibatpur union, said many flowers were rotting and falling off shortly after blooming. “The plants are producing flowers, but they are not surviving. If the flowers do not survive, how will the plants produce beans?” he said.

Another farmer, Abul Kashem, said excessive heat had damaged flowers across the area, raising concerns that yields could fall by half. “If this continues, even recovering the production costs will be difficult,” he said.

Rafiqul Islam, another farmer from Haibatpur, said early bean cultivation usually offered good profits because of strong demand and higher prices at the beginning of the season.

“Early bean cultivation is expensive. A good harvest can bring handsome profits, but if production falls, there will be little left after covering all the expenses,” he said.

Farmers said bean seeds for early cultivation are generally sown in Baishakh, the first month of the Bengali calendar. Growers then invest in trellises, fertilisers, irrigation, weeding and pest control to ensure healthy plant growth.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), however, does not expect a major disruption to bean supplies despite possible production losses in early-season fields.

Mosammat Razia Sultana, Jashore Sadar upazila agriculture officer, acknowledged that unfavourable weather could reduce yields but said supplies from other areas and regular seasonal harvests were expected to meet market demand.

“Adverse weather may cause some damage to early bean cultivation, which could affect production to an extent. However, we do not expect a major impact on overall bean supplies in the market,” she said.

She said early vegetable cultivation aimed to ensure supplies at the beginning of the season, when demand and prices were generally higher. Farmers were also receiving advice on crop management and pest and disease control, she added.

Growers are now hoping that temperatures will fall, encouraging fresh flowering and pod formation. However, they fear prolonged heat could turn their expected profits into losses.