Rainwater dashes watermelon farmers’ dream

Watermelon farmers face huge losses as thousands of hectares get flooded due to heavy rain in Patuakhali’s coastal villages.

Farmers from several coastal villages are now busy removing rainwater from the watermelon fields. While sudden rain was very beneficial for rabi crops, two days of incessant and heavy rain have wreaked havoc for thousands of watermelon farmers in the Patuakhali coast. Their dreams of a good harvest are shattered.

Watermelon fields looked lush green barely a few days ago. But the green fields are under water now. Farmers put the blame on the unplanned construction of a dam in the middle of a canal.

They have a tough time now and they are trying hard day and night using buckets to remove water from the fields. Some farmers even cut a channel from the fields to drain out the rainwater. Due to the favourable weather, farmers had hoped for a bumper production this year.

However, torrential downpour has dealt a heavy blow to their dreams and now they fear severe losses. Most of the farmers take loans from banks to cultivate watermelons. Now, they are worried and clueless about how they will repay the bank loans.  

“This year I planted watermelon on one acre of land. About 20 per cent of the watermelon production has been damaged due to the rain,” Ahidul, a farmer from Londa village, rued.

Alamin Khan, another farmer from Tarikata village, said he was very worried about the yield of the watermelons because of recent two days of heavy rain. Last year, too, his watermelon fields were damaged due to rain. “Now, I think I’ will incur heavy losses at the very beginning of the season,” he said.

Farmers named Zakir Choukidar, Kalam Mollah, Rajib Bepari from Gangamati village said their fields were under water.

Dhulasar UP chairman Abdul Jalil Akon said: “Watermelon farmers were very disappointed as they face severe losses. Robi crop fields also suffered huge losses.”

Sources in the Upazila Agriculture Office in Kalapara said watermelon was cultivated over 2250 hectares of land this season in the upazila. About 70 per cent of the production has been damaged. Almost 60 per cent of pepper production along with all kinds of pulses has also been damaged.

Every sub-assistant agriculture officer has been directed to do the needful. Farmers have been advised to apply anti-fungal medicines to their fields to save the crops, the sources said.

 

Rainwater dashes watermelon farmers dream

Watermelon farmers face huge losses as thousands of hectares get flooded due to heavy rain in Patuakhalis coastal villages. Farmers from several coastal villages are now busy removing rainwater from the watermelon fields. While sudden rain was very beneficial for rabi crops, two days of incessant and heavy rain have wreaked havoc for thousands of watermelon farmers in the Patuakhali coast. Their dreams of a good harvest are shattered. Watermelon fields looked lush green barely a few days ago. But the green fields are under water now. Farmers put the blame on the unplanned construction of a dam in the middle of a canal. They have a tough time now and they are trying hard day and night using buckets to remove water from the fields. Some farmers even cut a channel from the fields to drain out the rainwater. Due to the favourable weather, farmers had hoped for a bumper production this year. However, torrential downpour has dealt a heavy blow to their dreams and now they fear severe losses. Most of the farmers take loans from banks to cultivate watermelons. Now, they are worried and clueless about how they will repay the bank loans. This year I planted watermelon on one acre of land. About 20 per cent of the watermelon production has been damaged due to the rain, Ahidul, a farmer from Londa village, rued. Alamin Khan, another farmer from Tarikata village, said he was very worried about the yield of the watermelons because of recent two days of heavy rain. Last year, too, his watermelon fields were damaged due to rain. Now, I think I will incur heavy losses at the very beginning of the season, he said. Farmers named Zakir Choukidar, Kalam Mollah, Rajib Bepari from Gangamati village said their fields were under water. Dhulasar UP chairman Abdul Jalil Akon said: Watermelon farmers were very disappointed as they face severe losses. Robi crop fields also suffered huge losses. Sources in the Upazila Agriculture Office in Kalapara said watermelon was cultivated over 2250 hectares of land this season in the upazila. About 70 per cent of the production has been damaged. Almost 60 per cent of pepper production along with all kinds of pulses has also been damaged. Every sub-assistant agriculture officer has been directed to do the needful. Farmers have been advised to apply anti-fungal medicines to their fields to save the crops, the sources said.