Mintu Abdur Rahman, Rangpur :
Lifting of topsoil from arable lands by the brickfield owners is going on at different areas of the district, affecting the fertility of the farm lands.
Sources alleged that cultivable lands in many areas of the district are losing fertility every year because brickfield owners collect topsoil of the lands for making bricks.
Brick field owners of the district began manufacturing bricks after harvesting of Aman paddy and will continue it till advent of monsoon. Due to the removal of topsoil farmers of different areas under the region are witnessing low yield of crops from the affected lands, while the authority concerned seems to be oblivious to the matter, sources further alleged.
Some poor farmers said that the owners of the brick kilns compel them to sell topsoil of their farmland in exchange for money.
Azizul a farmer at Fakirerhat area in Mithapukur upazila said he has sold topsoil of his 15 decimals of land for Tk 4000 recently to a brick kiln owner of his area.Dulal Mia, a brick field owner of Nisbetganj area in Rangpur sadar upazila claimed it is not possible to make brick without topsoil as result they are to purchase it from farm land owners. He said they buy topsoil from the farmland owners without putting any pressure on them for it.In this situation the conscious people of the region urged the authorities concerned to take necessary measures in order to stop the use of topsoil for brick manufacturing as it is seriously affecting crop production.
Lifting of topsoil from arable lands by the brickfield owners is going on at different areas of the district, affecting the fertility of the farm lands.
Sources alleged that cultivable lands in many areas of the district are losing fertility every year because brickfield owners collect topsoil of the lands for making bricks.
Brick field owners of the district began manufacturing bricks after harvesting of Aman paddy and will continue it till advent of monsoon. Due to the removal of topsoil farmers of different areas under the region are witnessing low yield of crops from the affected lands, while the authority concerned seems to be oblivious to the matter, sources further alleged.
Some poor farmers said that the owners of the brick kilns compel them to sell topsoil of their farmland in exchange for money.
Azizul a farmer at Fakirerhat area in Mithapukur upazila said he has sold topsoil of his 15 decimals of land for Tk 4000 recently to a brick kiln owner of his area.Dulal Mia, a brick field owner of Nisbetganj area in Rangpur sadar upazila claimed it is not possible to make brick without topsoil as result they are to purchase it from farm land owners. He said they buy topsoil from the farmland owners without putting any pressure on them for it.In this situation the conscious people of the region urged the authorities concerned to take necessary measures in order to stop the use of topsoil for brick manufacturing as it is seriously affecting crop production.
