Aftermath of floods

Farmers hit by Aman seedling crisis

With crops on 36,379 hectares of land damaged by floods, farmers in 12 upazilas of Bogra district are in a dire need of Aman seedlings to recoup their losses by producing the food grain.

The farmers were unable to plant Aman seedlings as the floodwaters had washed away most of the seedbeds.

Till the third week of this month, they could only plant Aman on half of the damaged fields, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Bogra. In the corresponding period last year, Aman coverage was nearly 100 per cent of the target.

In view of weather uncertainties and forecast of more rainfall later this week, the DAE advised its staff across the district to encourage farmers to harvest Aus rice immediately to prevent any further loss of grain to floodwaters.

Agriculture ministry officials and the DAE said efforts were under way to provide flood-affected farmers with vegetable seeds and Aman seedlings.

Experts, however, cautioned that farmers would have to plant Aman by mid-September or else they would fail to achieve the targeted yield.

The district’s disaster management and relief office statistics show that crops were completely or partially damaged on 36,379 hectares till August 25, with 12 upazilas of the district being the worst-hit.

Talking to The Independent yesterday, Abul Kashem, a farmer in Bogra’s Mahasthangarh area, said he lost more than 40 maunds of Aus to the recent floods. “My Aman seedbed was also ravaged by the floods,” he lamented.

He came to Mahasthan Bazaar to buy T-Aman seedlings, but could not make any purchase because of high prices.

Kashem thought of planting Aman once the floodwaters receded from his cropland. But he failed to procure the seedlings and has decided to cultivate mustard instead.

He said around a thousand flood-hit farming households in his area recently received 10 kg of rice, two kg of cooking oil and one kg of sugar each as relief, but no seedlings to recoup the crop losses.

Razzak Mia, a farmer from Shekerkola union of Sadar upazila, said Aman on his two-acre land had been washed away by the floods. Vegetable farmers in the district were also hit hard.

In a recent visit to Rahodaha village in Sariajandi upazila, The Independent found Abdul Jobbar, a 40-year-old farmer, inspecting his damaged pointed-gourd farm. He had invested Tk. 25,000 to produce the vegetable on the leased plot. But floods damaged the crop when it was almost ready for harvesting. “The price was good in the market,” he said, trying to hold back tears.

In Sherpur upazila, Abdur Rahim cultivated Aman on more than four acres of land, but the crop was destroyed by floodwaters. “I don’t know how I will provide for my seven-member family,” said the 55-year-old farmer.

He had no scope of replanting Aman as its seedlings were not available.

DAE officials in the flood-hit districts are advising farmers to go for direct seeding of Aman if they fail to get seedlings. DAE deputy director Prutul Chandra said the agriculture department suffered a loss of Tk. 457 crore in the district. He also said a Tk 10.81 rehabilitation proposal had been sent to take care of the farmers. But the money had not been sanctioned yet.

Bina-7, BRRI-62 and Guinja paddy could also be planted, he advised.

However, there is a crisis of seedlings. Officially, 500 farmers had so far been given Aman seedlings for one bigha of land each.

A total of 36,379 hectares of land has been damaged due to an increase in the water level in the Bangali river in Bogra in the second phase, a DAE official said.

Aftermath of floods

Farmers hit by Aman seedling crisis

With crops on 36,379 hectares of land damaged by floods, farmers in 12 upazilas of Bogra district are in a dire need of Aman seedlings to recoup their losses by producing the food grain. The farmers were unable to plant Aman seedlings as the floodwaters had washed away most of the seedbeds. Till the third week of this month, they could only plant Aman on half of the damaged fields, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Bogra. In the corresponding period last year, Aman coverage was nearly 100 per cent of the target. In view of weather uncertainties and forecast of more rainfall later this week, the DAE advised its staff across the district to encourage farmers to harvest Aus rice immediately to prevent any further loss of grain to floodwaters. Agriculture ministry officials and the DAE said efforts were under way to provide flood-affected farmers with vegetable seeds and Aman seedlings. Experts, however, cautioned that farmers would have to plant Aman by mid-September or else they would fail to achieve the targeted yield. The districts disaster management and relief office statistics show that crops were completely or partially damaged on 36,379 hectares till August 25, with 12 upazilas of the district being the worst-hit. Talking to The Independent yesterday, Abul Kashem, a farmer in Bogras Mahasthangarh area, said he lost more than 40 maunds of Aus to the recent floods. My Aman seedbed was also ravaged by the floods, he lamented. He came to Mahasthan Bazaar to buy T-Aman seedlings, but could not make any purchase because of high prices. Kashem thought of planting Aman once the floodwaters receded from his cropland. But he failed to procure the seedlings and has decided to cultivate mustard instead. He said around a thousand flood-hit farming households in his area recently received 10 kg of rice, two kg of cooking oil and one kg of sugar each as relief, but no seedlings to recoup the crop losses. Razzak Mia, a farmer from Shekerkola union of Sadar upazila, said Aman on his two-acre land had been washed away by the floods. Vegetable farmers in the district were also hit hard. In a recent visit to Rahodaha village in Sariajandi upazila, The Independent found Abdul Jobbar, a 40-year-old farmer, inspecting his damaged pointed-gourd farm. He had invested Tk. 25,000 to produce the vegetable on the leased plot. But floods damaged the crop when it was almost ready for harvesting. The price was good in the market, he said, trying to hold back tears. In Sherpur upazila, Abdur Rahim cultivated Aman on more than four acres of land, but the crop was destroyed by floodwaters. I dont know how I will provide for my seven-member family, said the 55-year-old farmer. He had no scope of replanting Aman as its seedlings were not available. DAE officials in the flood-hit districts are advising farmers to go for direct seeding of Aman if they fail to get seedlings. DAE deputy director Prutul Chandra said the agriculture department suffered a loss of Tk. 457 crore in the district. He also said a Tk 10.81 rehabilitation proposal had been sent to take care of the farmers. But the money had not been sanctioned yet. Bina-7, BRRI-62 and Guinja paddy could also be planted, he advised. However, there is a crisis of seedlings. Officially, 500 farmers had so far been given Aman seedlings for one bigha of land each. A total of 36,379 hectares of land has been damaged due to an increase in the water level in the Bangali river in Bogra in the second phase, a DAE official said.