Crops on a vast tract of lands in Kurigram district have been damaged due to the torrential rainfall for the last several days and onrush of upstream water.

Farmlands, including peanut and pointed gourd fields, were submerged due to the rainfall activities, causing financial losses.

Farmers in the char (shoal) regions are facing significant losses due to the sudden inundation.

Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) have assured that once the floodwaters recede, damage will be assessed and necessary support will be provided to affected farmers.

During a recent visit to the area, it has been seen that crops were submerged suddenly by floodwaters, forcing farmers to wade in and harvest prematurely.

In some areas, water has already receded, exposing the widespread damage.

Some farmers have started clearing their damaged crops.

The Teesta, Dudhkumar, Brahmaputra and Dharla rivers overflowed due to the incessant rainfall for the past several days and onrush of water from upstream, inundating several acres of land.

Crops including peanuts, bottle gourd, jute, sesame, chili and Aush rice were submerged during the rainfall.

As the water remained stagnant for several days, most of the crops rotted.

Farmers said the untimely flooding has brought devastating financial losses this season.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), nearly 30,000 hectares of farmland cultivated in riverine char areas across 16 rivers in Kurigram, crops on around 300 hectares - including vegetables - have been damaged by the floods so far.

Ershad Ali, a farmer from Shulkurbazar in Panchgachhi Union, said, "Due to heavy rain and rising river levels, my bottle gourd field was flooded. All the plants on one bigha of land got damaged. I've suffered a major loss. If the water had arrived just a few days later, I could've sold the produce for a good profit."

Md Mamunur Rahman, assistant deputy director (Training) of DAE in Kurigram, said, "We have not yet completed the damage assessment in flood-affected riverbank areas. Once the evaluation is done, we will report the findings to higher authorities."

Source - https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd