A large area along the banks of Jamuna and Bangali rivers in Bogura’s Dhunat upazila was inundated by a wave of floods this year. This destroyed the villages of the lowlands and the crop fields of the farmers of the Jamuna Char.Farmers have started cultivating these fields anew after the flood waters receded.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Department, this year's floods in DhunatUpazila have inundated 10 villages inside the Jamuna river flood control dam and 156 hectares of arable land on the banks of the Bengali river.As a result, the fields of 2,200 farmers including Aus paddy, jute, chilli, maize and other crops were submerged in water.
The floods damaged crops worth around Tk 1.5 crore in Dhunatupazila. Of this, 1,050 hectares of land, including the Jamuna chars, was cultivated inside the flood control dam. The Upazila Agriculture Department has set a target of cultivating seasonal crops on 1,080 hectares of land in the area this season. But in the flood, the Baishakhi Char of Bhandarbari Union was lost in the river Jamuna. Due to which plans are being made to create new targets.
It is expected that paddy, mustard, Chinese almonds, maize, maize, gram and various vegetables will be cultivated in about 600 hectares of land inside the flood control dam this year. Farmers are preparing for cultivation. In most places, farmers are already seen planting paddy.
Somewhere else the farmer is spending busy time preparing the land for other crops. If the weather is favourable due to the fertility of the land after the floods, there is a possibility of getting more crops at low cost in these areas. Then the farmer will be able to reduce the flood damage if he gets a fair price for the crop.
DhunatUpazila Agriculture Officer Mashidul Haque said about 1,000 hectares of crops in DhunatUpazila have been inundated by floods in several phases this year. This has caused a loss of about Tk 80 lakh.
Meanwhile, farmers in flood-hit areas have resumed farming. Replying to a question, he said, "We have already provided mascalai, vegetable seeds and aush saplings to 1,033 flood-affected farmers as an incentive." Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officers are working at the field level to provide technical and technical advice to the affected farmers.