UNB, Chandpur
The recent untimely and incessant rainfall for three consecutive days has left a trail of devastation on mustard and vegetable fields in eight upazilas of the district.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said standing crops worth about Tk 15 crore have been damaged by the untimely rainfall, causing frustration among the farmers as they have no other means to repay their bank loans.
The potato growers in Chandpur Sadar, Hajiganj, Matlab South and Kochua – the major potato growing areas in the district, are the worst sufferers. As a result, the prospect of getting bumper production of potato this year is now a bleak, DAE sources said.According to official source, 17% potato seeds in fields have been damaged by the unexpected rainfall from December 8 to 10 resulting in a loss of Tk 2.875 crores of the farmers.
Meanwhile, 16.76% of the standing vegetables worth about Tk 19.74 crores have been damaged by the rain while 16.20% of the standing mustard crops have been damaged causing a loss of about Tk1.20 crore.
Though this year’s target was fixed to bring a total of 12,890 hectares of land under potato cultivation in the eight upazilas of the district, the rainfall affected 3700 hectare areas, according to DAE survey.
