Heavy rains for several days in a row and rising mountain slopes from upstream have increased river water level in Ulipur of Kurigram district. As a result of rising water level, the low lying areas of the char area have been submerged. This has caused extensive damage to various crops of Char areas.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Department, local Boro paddy has been cultivated in 150 hectares of land on different chars of Brahmaputra and Teesta rivers this year. About 25 hectares of Boro fields have been submerged due to untimely rise in river water. But the rest of the fields are being submerged due to the continuous increase of water. Helpless, the farmers are being forced to cut their hard-earned raw and semi-ripe paddy fields. As a result of the increase in water, onions of 15 hectares of land and watermelon of about 60 hectares of land have been submerged in water. Onion, almond, black cumin and linseed fields have also been submerged. As a result, the farmers have suffered extreme losses.
Rabiul Islam, a farmer of Char Baglakura in Bajra union of the upazila, has cultivated onion on 2 acres of land. He could have benefited a lot if he could harvest in time. But due to the sudden rise of river water, this dream did not come true. Rabiul Islam said that at the end of spring, he would grow 300 maunds of onions on 2 acres of land. But that was not possible because of the rising water. Now it can be 120-130 ounces of onion. But even that is not like keeping at home. They have to be sold now, or they will rot. He has suffered extreme losses. Onion growers Golam Rabbani, Jobed Ali and Golam Mostafa said the same thing.
Visiting Char Bagua Anantapur in Hatia Union of the upazila, it is seen that due to rising river water, some people are starting to cut Boro paddy fields which are already submerged. Talking to farmers Shamsul Haque, Ashimuddin, Zahurul, Shahidul Islam and some others at that time, they said that the river water level should not increase now. But after a few days of rain, the water has started to rise. There is no rice in the paddy tree yet, but he is cutting the trees. These will be used as straw.
Nazar Ali, a farmer from Aftabganj, said, “I have planted Boro paddy in 50 acres of land. As a result of sudden rise in water, they have sunk. And if there were a few days, rice would be available. The demand for this rice locally is much better than other rice.
Sajedul Karim, deputy assistant agricultural officer of Begumganj union, said Boro paddy is usually planted in low lands of chars. Buraburi Begumganj Hatia Union are low lying areas. Boro fields have been submerged due to the rapid inflow of Indian water into these areas.
Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge of Rajarhat Meteorological Observatory, said there was a possibility of light to moderate rain with sleet this week.
Upazila Agriculture Officer and agronomist Saiful Islam said farmers have already harvested about 10 hectares of boro paddy and 15
hectares of onion.