Ripe paddy submerged in haors

Ripe paddy in various haors of Jagannathpur, Sunamganj, has been submerged due to torrential and continuous rains that occurred on Monday and Tuesday. 

As a result, widespread lamentation has been observed among farmers across the haor areas.

Farmer Sarada Charan Das of Dasnowagaon village in Naluar Haor said he had cultivated 16 kedas of land but could only harvest the crop from one keda. The rest of his land has been submerged due to the continuous rains over the last two days. Despite his best efforts, he could not bring the crop home because of a shortage of agricultural labourers.

In a tearful voice, he said, “Everything is over for me. My family depends on the Boro crop. I cultivated the land on loan. How will I survive the whole year?”

Randhir Das Nantu, a former member of the Chilaura Haldipur Union Parishad, said that farmers could not harvest the crop from most of the land in Naluar Haor. Initially, waterlogging and labour shortages were problems, but the continuous rains over the last two days have submerged all the low-lying areas. It is estimated that at least 1,500 to 2,000 hectares of land have been submerged.

Farmers of Naluar Haor, including Ekhlas Mia, Madhu Mia, Gaurang Das, and Harindra Das, said their crops were submerged because there was no proper drainage system. They lamented that the crop protection dam of the haor has now become a death trap.

Meanwhile, semi-ripe rice has also been submerged in various other haors of the upazila, including Moiya and Pingla haors in Jagannathpur, due to the heavy rains.

Jagannathpur Upazila Agriculture Officer Kawsar Ahmed said that 50 percent of the rice harvest in Naluar Haor has been completed. Due to waterlogging and labour shortages, many farmers were rushing to harvest their rice when the continuous rains caused further damage. However, the exact extent of the damage is not yet known. Efforts are being made to harvest the remaining rice using boats. This year, 20,400 hectares of land in Jagannathpur Upazila have been brought under Boro cultivation.

Jagannathpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Islam Uddin said, “I am in the haor area and am trying to help the farmers in every possible way.”