Water hyacinth chokes Chalan Beel, threatens farming

GURUDASPUR, NATORE, Aug 3: Vast stretches of Chalan Beel, the country's largest wetland, have been overrun by water hyacinth, disrupting farming, blocking waterways and threatening the livelihoods of an estimated 30,000 farmers in Natore's Gurudaspur and Singra upazilas.

The rapid spread of the invasive aquatic weed has engulfed thousands of hectares of wetlands and cropland, casting uncertainty over the cultivation of Aman paddy, early mustard, wheat and boro rice in one of Bangladesh's key agricultural regions.

Residents said farmers are facing a fresh crisis after struggling to recover from repeated flooding in recent years.

According to locals, large parts of the wetland areas in at least 30 villages -- including Bilsha, Sripur, Bamanbaria, Pipla, Bil Haribari, Jogendranagar and Mashinda in Gurudaspur, and Dahia, Italy, Chowgram, Kolom, Tajpur and Sherkol unions in Singra -- are now covered with dense mats of water hyacinth.

Farmers said removing the weed has become an expensive and labour-intensive task.

They estimate that clearing water hyacinth from one bigha of land requires 10 to 12 labourers, with each worker charging Tk 550 to Tk 600 a day. As a result, farmers are spending Tk 5,000 to Tk 7,000 per bigha just to prepare land for cultivation.

Many have borrowed money to clear their fields but are struggling to find enough labourers.

Farmer Faruk Hossain of Bilsha Village said thousands of taka were being spent simply to remove the weed.

"We have already suffered repeated flood losses over the past few years and received little effective government support. Now we cannot even find enough workers to clear our land," he said.

The spread of water hyacinth has also rendered many waterways in the beel virtually impassable, disrupting transportation for residents of remote villages and affecting boatmen and day labourers who depend on water transport for their livelihoods.

Tagar Hossain, a teacher from Satpukuria Village, said boats that once moved freely are now unable to navigate many channels because of thick mats of water hyacinth.

"Travelling by boat has become extremely difficult in many areas," he said.

Saiful Islam, General Secretary of the Chalan Beel Biodiversity Conservation Committee, warned that the crisis could have wider implications.

"Chalan Beel is one of the country's major rice-producing regions. If agricultural production declines here, it will affect national food production. The spread of water hyacinth is also threatening biodiversity and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases," he said.

Monirul Islam Dolon, Chairman of Khubjipur Union Parishad, said vast areas stretching from Singra through Baruhas, Gurudaspur and Tarash to Chatmohar had been covered by the weed.

"Farmers who were hit by last year's floods are now facing another disaster. Unless the government urgently removes the water hyacinth, agricultural production will suffer seriously," he said.

KM Rafiul Islam, agricultural extension officer of Gurudaspur upazila, said reduced water flow in the wetland this year had accelerated the spread of the weed.

He added that embankments and temporary barriers in some places were obstructing the natural flow of water, allowing water hyacinth to accumulate.

"We are advising farmers to remove the weed as quickly as possible while collecting information on the affected areas," he said.

Gurudaspur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Fahmida Afroz said the administration had already asked the agriculture department and other relevant agencies to take necessary steps.