Fruit farmers face loss as smoke from brick kilns damages crops at Baghmara

RAJSHAHI, June 11: The farmers have to face huge loss as brick kiln smoke is damaging crops including mangoes and litchis at the orchards in Baghmara upazila of the district.
It causes black spot on fruits and reduces production. As a result, though the famers achieved bumper mango production in their orchards in different areas of the upazila this season, but they would get half of the market price as the mango turned black.
During a recent visit, this correspondent found more than 50 small and big brick kilns in different areas including Goalkandi, Taherpur, Thandarpara, Jolpaipara, Taltoli and Ramramai where the mangoes in different orchards turned black.
As a result, the farmers have become frustrated as they will get half the price of the mangoes in the markets. They are likely to face huge loss this year.
While talking with The Daily Observer, Abdul Matin of Ramrama village said, "I have 19 mango trees in my two orchards. Generally I earn over two lakh taka selling mango every year. But this year the brick kiln smoke has damaged the mangoes. Now, I am worried that I may not sell my mango in the market. I will have to face huge loss this year."
Altaf Mahalla of Boilsingha village said, "I have 250 litchi trees but I got good quality of the fruit only from 20 to 25 trees as the litchis of the rest trees have been damaged due to brick kiln smoke."
Scientific Officer at Rajshahi Fruit Research Institute Dr Abdul Alim said, "Emission of huge quantity toxic elements with smoke from brick kilns is causing serious environment pollution like damaging fruits, crops and also creating health hazards among people in this tract for long. The croplands which are located adjacent to the brick kilns get damaged every year. Moreover, productions of fruit-bearing trees, especially jackfruit and mango, have declined drastically since the brick kilns have been running in the district. Now the mango farmers have to face huge loss as the mangoes in the trees turned black due to brick kiln smoke."
Agriculture Officer Razibur Rahman said, "Brick kiln smoke damages the production of mango, litchi and other crops, and the orchards near the kilns are affected. As a result, the farmers have to face huge loss every year. But the administration is not taking legal steps against the kiln owners."
According to the law, no brick kilns can be setup near three kilometres of fruit orchards. But most of the brick kilns do not follow the rules here.
It is time to take legal steps against the illegal brick kilns which are hampering the ecological balance, sources said.