Sylhet Bureau :
Hailstorms and rain have damaged vast tracts of Boro fields in South Sunamganj, affecting approximately 3,500 farmers in four unions.
Farmers have complained that no crops were left to harvest by the end of a 30-minute-long hailstorm on Monday morning.
Farmer Anfar Ali said: ‘I lease other peoples’ land to cultivate them, and now I cannot pay for it, or my other loans. Only a few square meters of land of all the acres I planted can be harvested from.
“I have no idea how to feed my family now,” he lamented.
‘A few days ago, the fields were filled with ripe paddy,” Md Imdadul Haque, another farmer, said. “Now everything is destroyed, grain has fallen off the plants and is scattered on the ground.”
The agriculture office in south Sunamganj said that 750 hectares of fields of Boro, hybrid 28, and other varieties were destroyed in four unions. This breaks down to 400 hectares in Shimulbak union; 150 hectares in Patharia union; and 100 hectares in Dargapasha and West Birgaon union, each.
As the hailstorm struck and 4,000 metric tonnes of paddy worth Tk6.6 crore were destroyed in the: Jamkhola, Gazinagar, Assammora, Radharbari, and Halikanda haors of these four unions.
Farmer Jahur Ali said: ‘I took a loan of Tk50 lakh to lease land for farming, and production was good too; but after the hailstorm, nothing is left to harvest.
“All has turned to hay,” he said. “I do not know how I will repay my loan.’
Farmer Nuo Uddin added: ‘The production was so good that I would have been able to harvest 200 maunds of paddy. But the hailstorm has ruined it all.’
Jahur Mia, from Tehkia village, said: ‘I have lost all my crops and now have to sell my cattle to pay the labourers’ wages. We are in desperate need of the government’s support.’
Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Shimulbak union Jewel Rana said, ‘A hailstorm has destroyed all the crops here, leaving none for harvesting. Moreover, there is no other plantation to act as a backup.
‘Farmers with loans are in great trouble and we will soon talk to higher officials to take the necessary steps,’ he added.
District Agricultural Extension Officer Md Bashir Ahmed said: “3,500 farmers affected by the hailstorm are seeking the government’s help and support.
‘The government has assured the farmers that they will be compensated,’ he added.
Dhamalia Canal work may
affect crops, lead to erosion
A number of locals alleged that contractors concerned were not excavating a canal in a haor area of Biswambharpur Upazila under Sunamganj district.
They also expressed their disappointment as the work will not be completed in the timeframe set by the Water Development Board (WDB).
Besides, the local farmers are at great risk of saving standing Boro paddy as the rainy season is pretty close, they added.
The budget for the Dhamalia Canal excavation has been set at Tk 29 million.
The 8.0 km long excavation will help facilitate water to recede and save crops.
The disorganised work would be of no benefit for the croplands. Rather it would cause harm for the poor farmers, said a number of villagers.
Moreover, the Krishnanagar village adjacent to the project site would be at risk of massive erosion, they further alleged.
After getting specific allegations from the locals, the UNO of Biswambharpur Samir Biswas visited the site at Krishnanagar and asked for keeping the work suspended.
Besides, the possible consequences of the excavation were discussed at a meeting of the upazila Law and Order Committee on Wednesday last.
The UNO said the matter is being brought to the notice of WDB. The work should be done in consultation with the local stakeholders, he said, adding, none should be affected.
An official of the WDB, however, said the project was taken up for ensuring quick recession of water.
Hailstorms and rain have damaged vast tracts of Boro fields in South Sunamganj, affecting approximately 3,500 farmers in four unions.
Farmers have complained that no crops were left to harvest by the end of a 30-minute-long hailstorm on Monday morning.
Farmer Anfar Ali said: ‘I lease other peoples’ land to cultivate them, and now I cannot pay for it, or my other loans. Only a few square meters of land of all the acres I planted can be harvested from.
“I have no idea how to feed my family now,” he lamented.
‘A few days ago, the fields were filled with ripe paddy,” Md Imdadul Haque, another farmer, said. “Now everything is destroyed, grain has fallen off the plants and is scattered on the ground.”
The agriculture office in south Sunamganj said that 750 hectares of fields of Boro, hybrid 28, and other varieties were destroyed in four unions. This breaks down to 400 hectares in Shimulbak union; 150 hectares in Patharia union; and 100 hectares in Dargapasha and West Birgaon union, each.
As the hailstorm struck and 4,000 metric tonnes of paddy worth Tk6.6 crore were destroyed in the: Jamkhola, Gazinagar, Assammora, Radharbari, and Halikanda haors of these four unions.
Farmer Jahur Ali said: ‘I took a loan of Tk50 lakh to lease land for farming, and production was good too; but after the hailstorm, nothing is left to harvest.
“All has turned to hay,” he said. “I do not know how I will repay my loan.’
Farmer Nuo Uddin added: ‘The production was so good that I would have been able to harvest 200 maunds of paddy. But the hailstorm has ruined it all.’
Jahur Mia, from Tehkia village, said: ‘I have lost all my crops and now have to sell my cattle to pay the labourers’ wages. We are in desperate need of the government’s support.’
Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Shimulbak union Jewel Rana said, ‘A hailstorm has destroyed all the crops here, leaving none for harvesting. Moreover, there is no other plantation to act as a backup.
‘Farmers with loans are in great trouble and we will soon talk to higher officials to take the necessary steps,’ he added.
District Agricultural Extension Officer Md Bashir Ahmed said: “3,500 farmers affected by the hailstorm are seeking the government’s help and support.
‘The government has assured the farmers that they will be compensated,’ he added.
Dhamalia Canal work may
affect crops, lead to erosion
A number of locals alleged that contractors concerned were not excavating a canal in a haor area of Biswambharpur Upazila under Sunamganj district.
They also expressed their disappointment as the work will not be completed in the timeframe set by the Water Development Board (WDB).
Besides, the local farmers are at great risk of saving standing Boro paddy as the rainy season is pretty close, they added.
The budget for the Dhamalia Canal excavation has been set at Tk 29 million.
The 8.0 km long excavation will help facilitate water to recede and save crops.
The disorganised work would be of no benefit for the croplands. Rather it would cause harm for the poor farmers, said a number of villagers.
Moreover, the Krishnanagar village adjacent to the project site would be at risk of massive erosion, they further alleged.
After getting specific allegations from the locals, the UNO of Biswambharpur Samir Biswas visited the site at Krishnanagar and asked for keeping the work suspended.
Besides, the possible consequences of the excavation were discussed at a meeting of the upazila Law and Order Committee on Wednesday last.
The UNO said the matter is being brought to the notice of WDB. The work should be done in consultation with the local stakeholders, he said, adding, none should be affected.
An official of the WDB, however, said the project was taken up for ensuring quick recession of water.
