Boro paddy suffers massive damage due to lack of water
Bagerhat Correspondent :
Due to the lack of irrigation water during the Boro season, paddy fields in the vast areas of Rampal and Bagerhat Sadar Upazilas are burning and being destroyed. Due to the lack of water, soil of the land has cracked and and turned into a cesspool. Thousands of farmers are extremely worried about paddy production. It seems that no one sees the silent cries of the farmers of this coastal region.
Farmers said they have planted Boro paddy seedlings after spending lakhs of Taka on the assurance of the Agriculture Department, but are unable to irrigate due to lack of sufficient water in the canals.
It has alleged the construction of a bridge in Devipur area, while keeping the Foila sluice gate in Rampal closed, has stopped the flow of water in the various canals in Rampal and Bagerhat Sadar. As a result, irrigated Boro cultivation is being severely affected.
A visit to some villages in the Upazila has shown that the soil of the paddy fields has hardened and cracked due to lakh of water. In some places, the paddy plants have turned reddish due sunburn.
There is no irrigation system in many lands. The farmers fear that the formation of paddy ears is being hampered due to lack of water in the lands.
A Hakim Mallik, a farmer hails from the village Sugandhi said that last year he sold paddy worth Tk.4 lakhs. But this time, Boro paddy of some 5 bighas (2.60 acres) land is on the verge of being destroyed due to lack of water.
He lamented that he is unable to irrigate for want water in the canal. He is even worried about whether the fish in the enclosure will survive. The water in the enclosure is also draying up due to the lack of water.
Akram Sardar, a farmer from Khudra-Chksree area said that despite cultivation paddy on his land with great hopes, he and his sharecroppers are facing difficulties due to water shortage. He demanded that the sluice gate should be opened immediately in coordination with the administration.
Another farmer named Firoj Sheikh said that many have taken loans from Banks and NGOs or mortgaged their gold for cultivation. If they do not get water, dreams of the farmers along with rice will also end. He sought the government intervention to ensure quick water supply.
Mrs. Tamanna Ferdausi, UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer), Rampal said, if the affected farmers submit a written complaint to us, we will take immediate action.
Md. Motahar Hossain, Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department, Bagerhat, said that the matter has been brought informed to the Bangladesh Water Development Board several times in the district Development meeting. However, no effective action has been taken. He mentioned that if the issue is not resolved quickly, there is no risk of massive production deficient in the current season.
Attempt to speak to the WDB (Water Development Board) on mobile about this matter were unsuccessful.
