The recent floods have caused severe damage to the farmers of Nilphamari, who are struggling to cope with the loss of their homes, lands and crops. The extent of the damage is not yet clear to district agricultural office.
According to sources, this is the ninth time that the Teesta River has flooded since August 26, destroying houses, settlements, cultivated land and crops along its banks. The farmers of the lower Teesta are facing a double crisis, as the rising water level in the upstream Teesta and the silt carried by the water are burying their rice fields under sand and mud. The rice plants are either rotting or being washed away by the silt. The upazila agriculture officer has no accurate information about the damage.
The affected areas include North Kharibari, Teesta Bazar, Munsipara, Tatinpara, Tanti Para of Gayabari Union, Thataripara, Uttara Bazar, Superitari, Chotakhata, Uttar Khata, Munsipara, Purba Baishpukur and Jhunagach Chapani Union of Gayabari Union, Chatunama, Kellapara, Vendabari, Khagakhribari of Tepakharibari Union of Dimla Upazila of Nilphamari. of the union Farmers in Dohalpara, West Chatnai Union's Kaliganj, Jharsingh, East Chatnai Union's Khogar, East Colony, Kichamat Chatnai villages are worried about the cultivation of more than 100 hectares of land. Many of them complain that they have not received any support or guidance from the agriculture office.
Muslim Uddin of Munsipara village said that he planted rice late due to the flood, but his 5-bigha rice field was destroyed by another flood. He said that his arable land was also ruined by the flood. He further said that some of his rice plants rotted and some were covered by silt.
Shafiul Alam of Superitari village said that he had no hope of harvesting any crop this year. He said that the monsoon and the silt brought by the river had destroyed his plantation. He said that no one from the agriculture office had visited his area.
Abdur Rahman of Chatunama village said that the land has been filled with sand washed away by flood water. The silt that had grown out of the rice plant has exhausted the soil. Nothing to do, no one to advise.
