Heavy rain submerges Aman seedbeds at Char Fasson

CHAR FASSON, BHOLA, July 27: Continuous heavy rainfall over the past week has submerged vast stretches of agricultural land in the coastal Char Fasson of the district, severely damaging Aman seedbeds and summer vegetable fields and forcing farmers to prepare new seedbeds at additional cost.

Although floodwater has started to recede in some areas, thousands of farmers remain uncertain whether the remaining seedbeds and vegetable plots can be saved. Many have already begun preparing fresh seedbeds to avoid missing the Aman planting season.

Farmers said Aman seedbeds are usually prepared from mid-Jaishtha to the end of Ashar, while seedlings are transplanted from early Shraban to mid-Bhadra. This year, they had completed seedbed preparation on time, but nearly 10 days of continuous rainfall caused widespread water-logging, leaving most seedbeds in low-lying and char areas under water.

A visit to Char Fakira in Hazariganj Union found farmers busy selecting new plots and preparing fresh seedbeds as soon as the weather improved.

Farmer Md Siraj Patwari said he had started preparing a new seedbed after his previous one was inundated.

Farmers Md Rafik and Md Harun said repeated rainfall had submerged their seedbeds, leaving the seedlings on the verge of being destroyed. They said they had to buy paddy seed at higher prices to start over, which would delay Aman cultivation by around 20 days.

"The delay in preparing seedbeds means our other crops will also be harvested later, and overall production may decline," they said.

Char Fasson Upazila Agriculture Officer Nazmul Huda said around 800 hectares of Aman seedbeds had been prepared this season, of which about 170 hectares had already been damaged.

He added that preliminary estimates indicate nearly 1,210 hectares of cropland have been affected by the recent spell of heavy rain.

The Department of Agricultural Extension is maintaining regular contact with farmers, advising them to drain excess water quickly and encouraging those whose seedbeds have been damaged to prepare new ones without delay, he said.