Salty water damages melon on 700 acres
With hopes of a good profit dashed by the whim of nature, a farmer gives a bleak look at his saline water affected watermelon field at Dakkhin Boalia village in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali district on Sunday. Photo: STAR
Salty water from the Bay and adjoining rivers has damaged watermelon worth over Tk 35 lakh on around 700 acres of land in Galachipa, Baufal and Dashmina upazilas of Patuakhali district during the last few days. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in the district, watermelon on about 500 acres of land has been damaged fully and 200 more acres partly as tidal surges under the influence of new moon entered farmlands. Even after receding of water from some areas, watermelon continued rotting due to the effect of salinity. This season watermelon was cultivated on 2,800 acres of land in Patuakhali district -- 1,000 acres in Galachipa upazila, 450 acres in Kalapara, 550 acres in Baufal, 600 acres in Dashmina, 100 acres in Sadar upazila, 60 acres in Mirzaganj and 40 acres in Dumki, said sources of DAE. Visiting different areas of Galachipa upazlia on Saturday, this correspondent saw many watermelon fields, especially those in low lying areas, still under water while farmers were desperately trying to save their fields from flooding. "I cultivated watermelon on 45 acres of land with investment comprising a good amount of loan. I planned to sell the produce after 10/12 days with hope to earn a net profit of about Tk one lakh. But sudden tidal surge affected my fields for last three days. Now I can earn only Tk 20 to 25 thousand," said Makbul Howlader, 50, a farmer of South Charkhali village under Galachipa upazila. Abdus Salam Mollah, 40, Abul Hashem, 42, Bellal Howlader, Jalal Mollik, 50, Yeasin Howlader, 45, Ziaul Kabir, 42, Enus, 46, of Boalia village have similar stories to tell. The affected farmers are now passing their time amid worry as most of them cultivated watermelon with loan from banks or NGOs, they said. When contacted, DAE Deputy Director Nikhil Ronjon Mondol said, "We will prepare a damage list in the district and send it to higher authorities, recommending necessary steps in this regard."
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