Prof ABM. Mosharraf Husain, Bagerhat :
The recent heavy downpour and flash flood triggered by the devastating cyclone Bulbul massively damaged vegetables and fish enclosures in Bagerhat, pushing farmers of the coastal district into despondency.
According to Agriculture Extension Department of Bagerhat , about 22,900 vegetable growers incurred a loss of Tk.3.77 crores since the cyclone brought incessant rain and wind gusts across the region in the last month.
Moreover, Raghunath Kar, Deputy Director, Bagerhat district Agriculture Extension Department disclosed, a total of 7,501 fish enclosures were damaged causing a loss of Tk.3.55 crores to the owners. As a result, it will be very difficult to achieve the production target of 32,000 tones shrimp in the current financial year in the district.
Shrimp cultivators said , natural calamities hit ourselves very year. A shrimp cultivator named Mizan Shaikh of village Snagdia under Kachua Upazila told the newsmen, trees fell on the embankments of on the enclosures during the heavy rain and consequently, fishes could find their ways into the rivers. He added, I had spent Tk.5 lakh on 7 bighas of land where I set up the enclosure and cultivated shrimp. lobster and crap fish. But due to incessant rain all the fish went out into the rivers.
Khaled Khan, District Fishery Officer, Bagehat told the newsmen, owners of fish enclosures (fish cultivators) of Bagerhat used to play a very vital role in exporting of shrimps.
The Fishery Officer added, on the other hand, vegetables on 1,300 hectares of land were damaged in the district. But the officer could not ascertain the number of affected farmers of the district.
The officer further told the newsmen, most of the farmers cultivated early varieties of winter vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, tomato and other varieties with a hope of to earn a good profit, but flash water swept away vast tracts of their land.
Bagerhat District Agriculture Extension Department said that winter vegetables were mostly damaged in Chitalmari, Kachua, Bagerhat Sadar and Mollahat Upazilas.
Gopaldas, a farmer of Sangdia village under Kachua Upazila told this correspondent, the storm hit right when the vegetables were ready for sale. The farmer added, I had cultivated cauliflower, cabbage and tomato on 4 bighas land, but all were damaged.
Fakir Mohidul Islam Sumon, President , Bagerhat Shrimp Farmers’ Association told the newsmen, every year shrimp farmers suffer due to natural disasters. In order to save this business of the region Government must provide some aid to the victims. He sought assistance from the Government to mitigate the loss.
Nakib Foysal Ohid, UP Chairman , Badhal under Kachua Upazila told, cyclone Bulbul has caused irreparable damage to the farmers. Without assistance farmers cannot overcome the loss.
Deputy Director of Bagerhat district Agriculture Extension Department disclosed, fertilizers and seeds will be provided so that farmers can recover from their loss.
Nahiduzzaman Khan, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board, Bagerhat disclosed to the newsmen, some 18.53 kilometer embankments were damaged by the cyclone Bulbul in Sharankhola and Morrelganj Upazilas. When asked, what measures were being taken to help the farmers who get hit by natural calamities every year, the Executive Engineer replied, efforts are on to build durable enclosures.
The recent heavy downpour and flash flood triggered by the devastating cyclone Bulbul massively damaged vegetables and fish enclosures in Bagerhat, pushing farmers of the coastal district into despondency.
According to Agriculture Extension Department of Bagerhat , about 22,900 vegetable growers incurred a loss of Tk.3.77 crores since the cyclone brought incessant rain and wind gusts across the region in the last month.
Moreover, Raghunath Kar, Deputy Director, Bagerhat district Agriculture Extension Department disclosed, a total of 7,501 fish enclosures were damaged causing a loss of Tk.3.55 crores to the owners. As a result, it will be very difficult to achieve the production target of 32,000 tones shrimp in the current financial year in the district.
Shrimp cultivators said , natural calamities hit ourselves very year. A shrimp cultivator named Mizan Shaikh of village Snagdia under Kachua Upazila told the newsmen, trees fell on the embankments of on the enclosures during the heavy rain and consequently, fishes could find their ways into the rivers. He added, I had spent Tk.5 lakh on 7 bighas of land where I set up the enclosure and cultivated shrimp. lobster and crap fish. But due to incessant rain all the fish went out into the rivers.
Khaled Khan, District Fishery Officer, Bagehat told the newsmen, owners of fish enclosures (fish cultivators) of Bagerhat used to play a very vital role in exporting of shrimps.
The Fishery Officer added, on the other hand, vegetables on 1,300 hectares of land were damaged in the district. But the officer could not ascertain the number of affected farmers of the district.
The officer further told the newsmen, most of the farmers cultivated early varieties of winter vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, tomato and other varieties with a hope of to earn a good profit, but flash water swept away vast tracts of their land.
Bagerhat District Agriculture Extension Department said that winter vegetables were mostly damaged in Chitalmari, Kachua, Bagerhat Sadar and Mollahat Upazilas.
Gopaldas, a farmer of Sangdia village under Kachua Upazila told this correspondent, the storm hit right when the vegetables were ready for sale. The farmer added, I had cultivated cauliflower, cabbage and tomato on 4 bighas land, but all were damaged.
Fakir Mohidul Islam Sumon, President , Bagerhat Shrimp Farmers’ Association told the newsmen, every year shrimp farmers suffer due to natural disasters. In order to save this business of the region Government must provide some aid to the victims. He sought assistance from the Government to mitigate the loss.
Nakib Foysal Ohid, UP Chairman , Badhal under Kachua Upazila told, cyclone Bulbul has caused irreparable damage to the farmers. Without assistance farmers cannot overcome the loss.
Deputy Director of Bagerhat district Agriculture Extension Department disclosed, fertilizers and seeds will be provided so that farmers can recover from their loss.
Nahiduzzaman Khan, Executive Engineer of Water Development Board, Bagerhat disclosed to the newsmen, some 18.53 kilometer embankments were damaged by the cyclone Bulbul in Sharankhola and Morrelganj Upazilas. When asked, what measures were being taken to help the farmers who get hit by natural calamities every year, the Executive Engineer replied, efforts are on to build durable enclosures.
