Extensive damage to Aman paddy fields in Ulipur, Kurigram, took place due to stormy winds. As a result, half-ripe paddy and paddy at the milking stage, including Aman fields, have been flattened. From Thursday morning to Sunday morning, due to the stormy winds, crops in huge Aman fields have been flattened in one municipality and 13 unions of the upazila.
Sources from the Upazila Agriculture Office indicate that Aman paddy has been cultivated on 24,350 hectares of land in the current season. Initially, the damage due to the stormy winds has been estimated at 8 hectares. In reality, the extent of the damage is much higher.
Subash Chandra, a farmer from the Rajaram Kshetri area of Ulipur Municipality, said that the Aman paddy on his 22 decimal plot of land has been flattened in the water due to the storm. The flattened paddy field will be ruined.
Farmers including Jobaidul Islam and Abul Hossain from the Damarhat area of Bozra Union said that the crops on one bigha of their land each have been flattened in the water due to the storm.
Rafiqul Islam, a paddy farmer from the Mahideb area of Gunai Gachh Union, said he planted Aman paddy on 10 bighas of land and the yield was fairly good. However, due to the stormy winds over the last three days, the paddy on three bighas of land, including half-ripe paddy and paddy at the milking stage, has been flattened in the water. He stated that this would cause him massive losses.
Upazila Agriculture Officer and Agriculturist Mosharraf Hossain said, "The initial estimate of damage to Aman fields due to the stormy winds is about 8 hectares. Our Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officers are working at the field level."
