Rains cause loss of Tk 17cr for farmers

Farmers in the low lying areas of different upazilas in Bagerhat have incurred a loss of about Tk 17 crore due to heavy rains and tidal surge.

As soon as the water started receding in the areas, its dreadful impact became visible, said the growers.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Bagerhat, Aus and Aman paddy, betel leaf, sugarcane and various vegetables have been cultivated on 52,309 hectares of land in different upazilas of the district this season. Of them, 9,500 hectares of croplands have been damaged due to heavy rainfall, coupled with tidal flows.

Now the farmers in the areas fear it will affect their Aman production target this year.

More than 25 thousand and 36 farmers have incurred Tk 17.18 crore this year due to tidal surge, said a DAE official.

Earlier, the cyclone Amphan also caused extensive damage to crops in the low lying areas. This agricultural sector in the areas rather comes to the victims as double blow. So the farmers have urged the government to extend help for them in this crisis.

Ashim Mandol, a farmer of Narendrapur village in Kachua upazila, said after receding of waters, it was seen that his chilli and tomato fields got badly damaged. Now the land has to be prepared again for cultivation. He will have to spend extra money for this.

Another grower Nirmol of Kantipara village in Morelganj upazila said the vegetable plants on his field are now dying after the waters receded in the area.

"In this situation, I do not know how to start farming anew. However, I have heard that the government is giving incentives to the affected farmers. If we get government loans on easy terms, we will be able to start the farming once again," said Nirmol.

Raghunath Kar, deputy director (DD) of Bagerhat DAE, said in the last few days, incessant rains and tidal waters have damaged about 9,500 hectares of croplands in the low lying areas of the district.

It has caused a loss of 17 crore and 18 lakh taka, said the DD.

The DAE official further said that they are providing seeds and fertilisers to the affected farmers in the areas. They are also giving technical assistance to the growers.