Floods in Bogura damage crops worth Tk83cr
Most of the farmers are worried about maintaining their families
In Bogura, flood water has damaged crops worth around Tk83 crore in the current season. Of this, the amount of damage in Sariakandi upazila is around Tk68 crore, while the combined amount of damage is Tk15 crore in Sonatala and Dhunat.
The officials of the district agricultural extension and other agriculture officials provided the information after discussion with local farmers who were affected by the flood.
In this season, at least 50,000 people have been waterlogged in Sariakandi upazila alone. According to the upazila agriculture office, 7,535 hectares of land have been submerged in Sariakandi.
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Of the land, 5,020 hectares was used for jute cultivation; 2,377 hectares for Aush paddy cultivation; 56 hectares for vegetables; 65 hectares for Ropa Aman seed bed; 2 hectares for chili; and 15 hectares for maize cultivation.
Most of the damage has been caused in Chaluabari union. Besides, Kajla, Kornibari, Bohail, Sariakandi Sadar, Chandanbaisha, Kutubpur, Kamalpur and Hatsherpur were affected as well.
Agriculture officials of the upazila say that the floods have caused a loss of Tk27crore 95lakh 45 thousand to the Aush paddy.
Besides, the loss of jute is Tk39 crore 51 lakh 20 thousand, the damage to Aman seedbeds is worth Tk46.50 lakh, the damage to vegetables is Tk56 lakh, maize Tk10.80 lakh, and the amount of damage to the chili crops is Tk7.80 lakh.
Altogether, the farmers have incurred a total loss of Tk686,775,000.
Farmers say that it costs at least Tk10,000 to cultivate jute on one bigha of land. The cost includes land preparation, seed planting, fertiliser and labour costs.
Bulu Mandal, a resident of Panchgachhi Char in Biram of Chaluabariunion, cultivated jute on 2.5 bighas of land. He also negotiated with workers to reap the jute. But sudden flood from upstream has inundated the land.
Jute is cultivated on many acres of land north of Biram's Panchgachhi Char. All that land has now been submerged in the flood waters.
On Tuesday afternoon, it was found that jute leaves and jutes was floating along the river.
Khatiamari Char is about two kilometers north of Biram Char. Alamgir, a resident of this char, cultivated jute on five bighas of land in this season.
Knowing about the flood, he tried to reap jute from two bighas of land. But those have been washed away. He was also worried about reaping the remaining jute on his land.
Alamgir said that water coming in from upstream has caused a lot of damage. Even if the water recedes, the farmers will not be able to cultivate for want of money, he added.
At least 20 residents of the village said that many people have lost everything as the flood has washed away the jute.
Most of the farmers are worried about maintaining their families.
Sahena Begum of the village said that she had leased two bighas of land for Tk8,000 before. The yield and price – both were smart that time. So, she dreamt of leasing some more land next year with the profit. But the dreams were shattered.
Abdul Halim, Sariakandi upazila agriculture officer, said, "It is not the jute harvesting season now. The current age of jute is 60 to 65 days. But due to the floods, many of the farmers are harvesting immature jute. As a result, they do not get quality fibers or yield."
He continued, "It takes 85 to 95 days for the jute to mature. And harvesting jute in this time, yields between 80 to 90 percent fiber. But that is not happening now. The farmers are incurring losses."
If they harvest the jute now, they will have low yield, he added.
"For instance, if the land is full of jute, the yield is around nine maunds. But the yield is now four to five maunds," said Abdul Halim.
Most of the unions of Sariakandi were formed around the Jamuna and Bangali Rivers, so the damage is extensive there.
However, farmers of Sonatala and Dhunat upazilas of Bogura have also been affected by the floods.
Masud Ahmmed, Sonatala upazila agriculture officer, said that 1,045 hectares of land in Sonatala was damaged by the floods this season.
Of these, Pakulla and Tekanichukainagar have suffered the most. And there was partial damage in Madhupur, Sonatala and Jorgachha unions, he said.
Jute, Aush and vegetables have been submerged in these areas. Agriculture officials of the areas said that the amount of loss would be more than Tk15 crore.
Dhunat Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Mushidul Islam said a total of 251 hectares of land has been submerged in Dhunat Upazilain this season.
Of this land, 220 hectares were of jute, 20 hectares of Aush paddy, 5 hectares of vegetables, 5 hectares of other (sugarcane, banana) and 1 hectare of Aman seed bed have been submerged in flood waters.
Bhandarbari Union has suffered most of the damage while Chuniapara under Gosaibari Union has also suffered some damage.
The maximum loss for farmers in Bogura in last year's flood was Tk126 crore. The floods of 2016 had damaged crops worth Tk49 crore.
In 2015, Tk11 crore worth of crops were damaged. And the worst flood was in 2014. That year, 394 villages were flooded and about four lakh people were affected.
The loss of crop this year is worth Tk15 crore.
When asked about the crop damage caused by the floods this year, Samsul Wadud, acting officer-in-charge of the District Agriculture Extension Department in Bogura, said it was difficult to estimate the amount now.
"It will take more time to get the details of the loss," he added.
