Tell-tale signs of Cyclone Mahasen are still visible in the submerged fields of rice, sesame and melon in the south-western part of the country, where farmers are trying to salvage their crops to use them as cattle and poultry fodder. Officials estimate that the damage could be around Tk. 65 crore. Farmers are still trying to drain out water from their fields, so that they can prepare their land for vegetable cultivation in future.
Madhuri Roy (28) was collecting pulses in knee-deep water at her own rice-field. Instead of rice, the land has become a pool of muddy water. Hundreds of other people like her are trying to gather premature Iri and Aus paddy varieties for their domestic animals. They are working hard in what was once a vast tract of farmland in southern Khulna, which went under water after torrential rain, triggered by the cyclone, caused irreparable damage to the crops, including lentils, rice, watermelon, pumpkin, melon and till and different varieties of vegetable. Madhuri said all villagers, including children, are trying to salvage whatever has been left of the ruined rice fields. “Nothing can be done with this paddy. We’ll feed our domestic animals with it, ” she added.
Halima Ali (52), another villager collecting paddy from his ruined field, said the cyclone has destroyed the crops, even though they were soon to be harvested.”Now they are floating in knee-deep water with rice grains peeping out. It is simply unbearable to see the fruits of our hard labour rotting in the water,” she broke down.
Abdul Mia (57) had cultivated sesame and rice on his four acres. He told this correspondent that the crops would have matured, if only they had been given a week’s time.
Chandana Mallick (25), a housewife, was collecting the remains of rice and lentils she had planted as a share-cropper. She said the presence of innumerable leeches under the water is making it difficult to collect the crops. “But I need to salvage the remains of the crops to use them as poultry feed,” she added.
Sadhan Roy (42), a farmer, asked other people to salvage crops from his land. In return, he offered them equal share of the collection. He had borrowed money from the BRAC bank to cultivate his land. He expected to pay back the loan after a successful harvest. But the cyclone and the accompanying rain have shattered his dream. Abdul Aziz, deputy director of the Agriculture Extension Department of Khulna, said 16, 700 hectares have been affected in the district, of which 7, 200 hectares are crop lands. The most affected areas are Batiaghata, Dumuriya, Dacope, Paikgacha and Terokhada upazilas. A total of 24,000 farmers have been affected. They lost crops are worth about Tk. 65 crore.
Abdul Aziz said different varieties of crops, including rice, were damaged. He also said the district had recorded 360 mm of rainfall till May 26. He further said they will supply inputs like seeds and fertilisers to the affected farmers. When asked if the department has any plan to flush out the water from crop lands, Abdul Aziz said they have advised farmers to make an opening in the middle of their crop fields to drain out the water..
Gofur Mollah, chairman of Batiaghata Union, said poor and marginal farmers have been severely affected by the post-Mahasen downpour. He added that the government has done little to help the affected people in the district.
-With The Independent input
