Farming disrupted as croplands under water in Ishwardi

Swapan Kumar Kundu, Ishwardi (Pabna) :
About five hundred bigha of crop lands in two villages of Ishwardi upazila are not suitable of producing crops due to waterlogging year after year.
This problem has developmed due to the unplanned digging of ponds and non-renovation of drainage channels for about seven years. Small and marginal farmers are living in extreme financial hardship as they are unable to cultivate any kind of crops on this three-crop land due to waterlogging. He has repeatedly staged dharnas to various government departments and people’s representatives to demand relief from waterlogging of cropland and uninterrupted cultivation. Local residents and affected farmers demanded quick resolution of the problem.
Talking to the farmers and local people, it is known that three crops were grown in this crop field in Shyampur and Marmi villages of Dashuria Union on about five hundred bighas of land. Farmers were living by cultivating these lands. These lands have been submerged in water for more than seven years. The houses of four deep tubewells in cultivation of these lands are submerged in waterlogged water.
A drain was constructed about 20 years ago to drain the water. The drain falls into the Kamla river through Marmi-Shampur village. After the excavation of the canal, there has been no re-examination or renovation by the government. On both sides of the canal, unplanned fishing ponds have been created by excavating agricultural land. The water drainage channel has now become non-existent due to the cutting of pond soil and banana trees on the banks. As a result, 500 bigha of crop land is submerged throughout the year.
Farmer Mostak Ali Pramanik of Marmi Purvapara village said that three bighas of land are under water for seven years. Here I used to cultivate various crops including paddy, beans, saffron, jute, mustard. The family used to run on land cultivation, it cannot be understood as the current situation.
Mofiz Uddin of Shyampur village said that if canals or drains are not excavated or re-excavated, waterlogging will not be resolved. Crop land is under water, even if it rains a little, water enters the house. There is no better place outside the house.
UP member Rafiqul Islam Majhi said, I myself went to the UNO sir and agriculture officer along with the marginal farmers. They promised to defuse the waterlogging.
Bakul Sardar, chairman of Dashuria, said that after learning about the matter, I have spoken to the upazila administration and agriculture officials to take action. Hopefully this problem will be solved soon.