Severe Waterlogging Causes Extensive Damage to Boro Paddy in Netrokona

Severe waterlogging due to hill torrents and upstream water

Farmers in the haor region are facing extreme hardship and financial losses after cutting paddy from neck-deep water to save their drowning dreams, only to see it rot before their eyes. The sudden waterlogging, caused by hill torrents and rushing upstream water, has severely damaged Boro paddy in Mohanganj Upazila, Netrokona.

The farmers spent Eid-ul-Azha this year with deep worry, despair, and lamentation written on their faces. On Tuesday, a visit to the area revealed that as the sun came out, farmers and farmworkers were busy setting up poles and nets to sift through heaps of rotting paddy to salvage sprouting seedlings. Adding insult to injury, they are forced to pay high wages to harvest this rotten paddy, while the market price they receive is as low as water. All in all, at least 5,475 farmers in the area are in extreme crisis.

According to the Upazila Agriculture Department, the total area of completely destroyed Boro paddy fields in the haor region is 745 hectares, resulting in an estimated financial loss of Tk 20.60 crore for the farmers.

Manik Mia (33), an affected farmer from Kantapur Kanuari village in the upazila, expressed his anguish: "After spending so much money, I somehow managed to harvest 8 of my 32 acres of submerged paddy fields. But even after harvesting, there was no benefit—it all rotted away. There's no option but to let the water wash it away. The paddy is gone, and so are my crops. The joy of Eid is over. We're now sifting through the water as everything is turning into a mushy mess. There's not even any grass for the cows. We are completely helpless. I can't think of what to do."
The same lament echoes from daily laborer and farmer Manikul (26). "I cultivated 8 acres of land. The water took away all the fields. I managed to harvest a little. But rotten paddy that's been underwater can't be threshed by machine."

Abdul Rashid (69), an elderly farmer from Karachapur, detailed the losses: "With so much effort, I cultivated 96 acres of land. All the fields have gone underwater. Whatever little paddy I harvested has also rotted away. If the government gives me some assistance, then my life might be saved. I'm barely surviving, worrying about what my cows will eat."

Confirming the devastating disaster and huge financial losses, Abdur Shakur Sadi, Upazila Agriculture Extension Officer of Mohanganj, said thousands of haor farmers have been affected by the sudden flood. He added that the relevant authorities are working to prepare a list of the affected farmers and provide government assistance.