NETRAKONA, Apr 16: Harvesting of Boro paddy has begun in Khaliajuri Upazila of Netrakona as farmers rush to bring crops home amid fears of flash floods and hailstorms in the haor region.
Locals said farmers are living in anxiety as any rise in water levels could submerge the only major crop of the season. From Wednesday, farmers in low-lying haor areas started harvesting paddy manually as machine harvesting could not be fully carried out in waterlogged fields.
Khaliajuri, a haor-dominated upazila with a population of over one lakh, comprises six unions and 89 villages. Around 20,232 hectares of land have been brought under Boro cultivation this season.
Several haors and wetlands, including Dullir Haor, Roail, Nander Bil, Petnar Haor in Mendipur union; Chautara and Pathra Haor in Chakuya union; Kirtankhola, Potabil, Dairer Par and Lokhipasha in Khaliajuri Sadar; Chelabil, Payar Haor, Chatol Haor and Muldair in Nagar union; Chayar Haor, Khanaibil, Khadher Haor in Krishnapur; and Koirahaor, Naitta Haor, Heni Haor, Kata Haor and Chatol Haor in Gazipur union have been cultivated this season.
Officials said around 286 hectares of cropland may face partial damage due to water-logging, while about five hectares have already been damaged.
Farmers from Nurpur Boali Village, including farmer Samsu Mia and Khaliajuri Upazila Krishak Dal General Secretary Pandab Sarkar, said waterlogged fields made it impossible to use harvesting machines, forcing farmers to start manual harvesting from Wednesday.
Khaliajuri BNP President and Gazipur Union Parishad Chairman Abdur Rouf Swadhin, Jamaat Amir Md Ismail Hossain, and BNP General Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Talukder Kesthu said the Boro yield this year has been satisfactory, though excess rainfall has caused some water-logging.
They said efforts are underway to arrange additional harvesting machines from nearby areas to ensure timely collection of crops.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Delwar Hossain said, around 200 harvesting machines are required to cut Boro paddy across 20,232 hectares. Currently, 86 machines are available in the upazila, while another 40 have been arranged from neighbouring areas, bringing the total to 126. More machines are expected to arrive within a week.
He added that although some crop damage has occurred due to rainfall, overall Boro production in Khaliajuri remains good this year.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nadir Hossain Shamim said farmers have begun harvesting in low-lying areas on their own due to water-logging. He said official harvesting activities will begin on April 14, coinciding with Pahela Baishakh.
He added that discussions have been held with neighbouring Madan and Itna upazilas to ensure sufficient diesel supply for harvesting machines, and fuel will also be stored through local dealers to avoid disruption.
