Farmers in different districts of the country including Netrakona, Naogaon and Barguna are facing deep distress as vast areas of their Boro paddy fields have gone under water due to storms, heavy rainfall and upstream hill torrents during the last few days.
NETRAKONA: Farmers in Netrakona are facing deep distress as vast areas of Boro paddy fields have gone under water due to heavy rainfall and upstream hill torrents.
Instead of smiles after harvest, a shadow of grief has fallen over the district's haor and plain land farmers.
According to official sources, around 9,625 hectares (ha) of paddy fields in different haor and low-lying areas have been submerged following continuous rain and rising river water.
Water levels in several rivers, including the Kangs, Dhanu, Mogra, Someshwari and Magra, are still increasing. The Kangs River was flowing 1 cm above the danger level while the Udbakhali River was 0.72 cm above the danger mark as of Saturday evening, according to the Water Development Board (WDB).
Due to the situation, Boro paddy in Khaliiazuri, Madan, Mohanganj, Kolmakanda, Purbadhala, Atpara, Barhatta, Kendua and Netrakona Sadar upazilas has been submerged.
Officials said, while farmers have started harvesting some fields, about 8,534 hectares remain underwater. Local farmers, however, claim the affected area is nearly double.
This year, Boro cultivation covered 185,547 hectares in the district with a production target of 1.32 million tonnes. In haor areas alone, 41,065 hectares were cultivated. But widespread flooding has already threatened a significant portion of the harvest.
Farmers said they were just days away from harvesting when the sudden floodwater destroyed their fields. Many expressed fear over repaying loans and managing household expenses.
"We were supposed to bring home the harvest, but everything is under water now," said farmer Nurul Islam Fakir of Purbadhala.
Similar distress was echoed by farmers in Khaliiazuri, Madan, Atpara, Mohanganj and other upazilas, many of whom said they are running out of options as standing crops continue to remain submerged.
Agriculture officials said harvesting has started in some areas, but rising water levels may increase losses further.
Meanwhile, the WDB said all embankments remain intact, though drainage problems and heavy rainfall caused the water-logging situation.
Local authorities and agricultural officials are assessing damage and preparing lists of affected farmers for possible assistance.
DHAMOIRHAT, NAOGAON: Farmers in Dhamoirhat Upazila of Naogaon are facing growing concerns over harvesting, threshing and drying mature paddy due to adverse weather conditions. Sudden rain and gusty winds have increased the risk of damage to ripe crops standing in the fields.
Talking to local farmers, it was learned that they had expected a good yield in the current Boro season. However, the prevailing weather situation has dealt a major blow to their hopes. Many farmers have already started harvesting Jirashail variety paddy, but frequent rain is disrupting their work. As a result, delays in harvesting are increasing the risk of crops being damaged in the fields.
Vast stretches of cropland in the upazila are now covered with ripe and half-ripe paddy, most of which has already turned golden. But recent storms and rainfall have caused significant damage to Boro crops. Continuous nor'wester storms have forced many mature paddy plants to bend to the ground, while crops in low-lying areas are being submerged in rainwater. Farmers fear that if the weather does not improve soon, they may incur heavy losses.
Abdur Razzaq, a farmer from Alampur Union, said he had taken all preparations to harvest paddy in Chilimpur mouza. "But sudden adverse weather has made harvesting and threshing a major challenge. If the situation does not improve, increased moisture may damage paddy on nearly three bighas of my land," he said.
According to the upazila agriculture office, Boro paddy has been cultivated on 18,855 hectares of land in the upazila this season. Although a good harvest was expected, natural calamities have already threatened that prospect. Farmers are being advised to harvest crops quickly and move them to safe places if weather conditions permit.
Officials said a list of affected farmers is being prepared. Poor drainage in low-lying land has further put crops at risk in some areas.
Meanwhile, farmers are hoping for an early improvement in weather conditions so they can safely bring their harvest home. Otherwise, they fear that their year-long labour and investment may suffer significant losses.
AMTALI, BARGUNA: Farmers in Amtali Upazila of Barguna have suffered an estimated loss of around Tk 1.55 crore following several days of Kalbaishakhi storms and incessant rainfall that devastated vast stretches of cropland.
Field visits to Haldia, Chaora, Kukua, Gulishakhali, Arpangashia and Amtali Sadar unions reveal widespread destruction, with uprooted trees, damaged homes and submerged agricultural fields. The worst-hit crops include hybrid Boro paddy, mung bean, groundnut, chilli, and sweet potato, many of which have been completely ruined.
According to the Amtali Upazila agriculture office, hybrid Boro paddy was cultivated on 5,592 hectares this season, with around 5,585 acres affected by the adverse weather. Mung bean cultivation covered 10,315 hectares, of which 9,285 hectares have been damaged. Groundnut was grown on 291 hectares, with 281 hectares affected. Sweet potato cultivation spanned 182 hectares, with 120 hectares damaged. Sunflower fields covering 291 hectares saw damage on six hectares, while all 150.55 hectares of summer vegetables have been affected.
Altogether, the total financial loss is estimated at Tk 1 crore 55 lakh 23 thousand 650.
Local farmer Md Ripon from Haldia said he cultivated paddy, groundnut, and sweet potato this season. "Initially, drought conditions caused damage, and now the continuous rain has destroyed my groundnut, mung bean, and sweet potato fields completely," he said.
He added that the hybrid paddy is at risk of rotting as it was submerged before reaching maturity. "We are being forced to harvest crops prematurely, while many groundnut plants are already dead in the fields," he said.
Farmers say the combined impact of drought followed by storms and heavy rain has left them in deep uncertainty, threatening not only their current harvest but also their livelihoods.
Amtali Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Md Russell said most paddy crops have already matured. "Even if submerged, the water is expected to recede within a couple of days," he said, advising farmers to harvest their paddy as soon as conditions allow and bring it home quickly to minimise further losses.
