Rajshahi, Nov 01 (V7N) – With the passage of time and the rise of modern technology, traditional farming practices in Bangladesh are gradually disappearing. In Charghat upazila of Rajshahi, the familiar sight of farmers tilling their land with oxen and wooden ploughs is becoming increasingly rare.

In the past, stepping out of home in the early morning meant seeing hundreds of farmers guiding oxen with wooden ploughs, tilling fields using bamboo-made sharp plough blades attached with yokes. At that time, cultivation without oxen and ploughs was almost unthinkable. Today, these traditional methods have largely been replaced by modern machinery such as tractors and power tillers. Farmers can now plough and prepare land at any time of the day with minimal physical effort.

However, local farmers note that while modern machinery reduces labor and time, it has also affected the quality and taste of crops, as well as soil fertility. Elder farmers in the upazila said that using oxen for ploughing allows cultivation of about two bighas of land per day, and because the oxen plough deeply, the soil retains more nutrients and natural fertility. This method also reduces dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Many recalled the satisfaction and connection they felt while ploughing fields with oxen, a tradition that is now fading due to technological advancements.

Tahir Uddin, a resident of Kezipur village, shared, “From childhood, I worked in ox-plough farming. My family owned a pair of oxen for tilling our land. But over time, with modernization and new scientific inventions, everything has changed. The age-old practice of ploughing with oxen, yokes, and wooden ploughs is gradually disappearing.”

Upazila Agriculture Officer Bid Al Mamun Hasan emphasized the benefits of ox-plough farming, saying, “Ploughing with oxen mixes organic nutrients and fertilizers thoroughly into the soil, improving soil fertility. But it is time-consuming. Modern tractors allow farmers to prepare land quickly and efficiently.” He added that although traditional methods are declining, farmers are being encouraged to use a combination of chemical and organic fertilizers to maintain soil fertility and increase crop yields.

The gradual disappearance of ox-plough farming reflects the broader transformation of rural Bangladesh under technological and scientific progress. While convenience and efficiency have improved, the connection between farmers and the land, as well as traditional agricultural knowledge, is at risk of being lost for future generations.

END/MRA/SMA/