Aman prospect bleak in Patuakhali
Saline water damaging crops on 8,000 hectares
Aman plants in a field at Charipara village in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district getting damaged as saline water that entered the area during October 6-9 tidal surges has remained stagnant. Photo: STAR
Prospect of aman paddy seems bleak in six upazilas of Patuakhali district as paddy plants on about 8,000 hectares of land are badly affected by heavy rainfall and tidal surge. Frustration is mounting among the farmers, as saline water, which entered their paddy fields during tidal surge, is damaging the plants in larger scale although water from the fields receded after the surge on October 6 to 9. "We are worried as our Aman paddy, which is the main crop in the areas, is being damaged," said Abdur Rashid, a farmer of Charipara village under Kalapara upazila. He cultivated aman paddy on two hectares of land but all his paddy fields were over-flooded during tidal surge as the flood control embankment was damaged, Abdur Rashid added. The worst affected unions include Lalua, Nigonj and Khaprabhanga under Kalapara upazila, Charkazal, Charbiswas, Baishdia and Chalitabunia under Galachipa upazila, Bashbaria, Char Hadi and Char Borhan under Dashmina upazila, Choto Bighai, Barobighai, Itbaria under sadar upazila, Muradia, Angaria, Lebukhali under Dumki upazila and Char Barret, Agostee, Kachipara under Baufal upazila. Santu Gazi, another marginal farmer, said he planted aman paddy on 16 bighas only one month ago taking one-year lease from Nasir Howlader, a local landlord, but all his paddy fields are rotting under saline water. Even the water of the paddy land has become poisonous and itchy. People are also facing drinking water crisis as the tube wells went out of order during tidal surge. Vast areas of cropland were damaged by tidal surge and heavy rainfall as about one kilometre flood control dam was washed away on Ramnabad riverbank, said Moazzem Hossain, UP member of Lalua union parishad. Agricultural lands on this area are flooded in every full moon and new moon as saline water can easily enter into croplands through damaged dam, he added. During tidal surge, 18 Km flood control dam was fully breached and another 55 Km partly damaged, said Siddiqur Rahman, executive engineer of Water Development Board (WDB). Nikhil Ranjan, deputy director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), said over 10,000 hectares of aman paddy fields were flooded due to tidal surge this year. No more crop cultivation may be possible on the land this year, he added. "We sent a report on damage to the higher authority through deputy commissioner (DC) to take necessary step for rehabilitation of affected farmers," the deputy director said.
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