With water receding, the grim scenario of damages caused by flood is becoming visible in Kurigram and Lalmonirhat. Around 24,000 farmers have been affected in the two districts. Crops worth Tk 134 crore on 16,383 hectares of land were damaged, according to the department of agriculture.

Shahidar Rahman (62), a flood-affected farmer of Brahmaputra shoal at Kurigram’s Roumari, cultivated aus paddy on five bighas of land and vegetables in one bigha land. The flood washed away all his crops, leaving a damage worth Tk 75,000. “I have no way to compensate for this loss.”

He said he cultivated the crops by taking out loans. He’s now worried about how he’ll ever repay it and provide for his family at the same time.

Afzal Hossain (60), a flood-hit farmer of Teesta shoal at Rajpur union in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, said his three bighas of aus paddy, and four bighas of vegetables, nuts, and maize got damaged by floods. He said he incurred a loss of Tk 1.5 lakh.

Abdur Rashid, deputy director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Kurigram, said a list of those affected by the floods had been prepared and sent to the ministry concerned.

“The government hasn’t yet declared what steps it will take to rehabilitate the flood-affected farmers. However, distribution of fertilisers and seeds is ongoing.”

“If the flood-affected farmers do not get rehabilitation assistance, they won’t be able to make up for the loss,” he added.

Hamidur Rahman, deputy director of DAE in Lalmonirhat, said most of the farmers affected by the floods were cultivating crops with loans. He too hoped that the government will take necessary steps required to rehabilitate them.

Source - https://asianews.network