Flood damages crops worth around Tk90 crore in Kurigram

Mohubor Rahman, a farmer of Noabosh village in Kurigram Sadar upazila, cultivated pointed gourds on 80 decimal of land, investing Tk50,000. The yield was also very good. When he just started to sell the vegetable, his vegetable garden was submerged by floodwater and within a few days almost all the pointed gourds got damaged.

He said, "I was able to sell pointed gourds worth only Tk60,000. If the garden was not damaged, the amount would be around Tk2 lakh. I will have to face financial difficulties now." 

Mojibor Rahman, another farmer of Krishnapur village in the same upazila, has gone through a similar experience. When he just started to harvest bitter gourd, flood water entered his field and damaged all the vegetables. He cultivated bitter gourds on 60 decimal of land this year. 

According to the Kurigram Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), crops worth Tk89.97 crore have been damaged, and 67,715 farmers have been affected in the district due to the first phase of the floods in Kurigram this year, which lasted from June 20 to July 8.

Different kinds of crops have been cultivated on 40,665 hectares of land in nine upazilas of Kurigram this year, whereas the flood has damaged crops of 9,789 hectares of land, according to the DAE. This also applies to the first phase of the floods in Kurigram.

Of the affected farmers, 28,900 cultivated jute on 5,840 hectares, 13,070 farmers grew rice on 1,955 hectares, 8,150 cultivated vegetables on 860 hectares, 12,045 farmers sowed Aman seeds on 532 hectares of seed bed, 2,190 cultivated sesame on 302 hectares, 215 farmers cultivated cheenaon on 140 hectares, 1,920 cultivated pepper on 140 hectares and 1,225 farmers produced Kaunon on 20 hectares of land.

Sasty Chandra Roy, additional deputy director (Plant Protection) of Kurigram DAE, said, "As there is a possibility of a drought after the flood, we are suggesting that affected farmers sow seeds on seed beds, and prepare to cultivate Robi crops early to recover the losses."

On the other hand, though the flood water is receded, the overall flood situation in the district remains unchanged. 

Still, around two lakh people were marooned by flood water. 

According to the data given by Kurigram Water Development Board at around 12 noon on July 18, the water flow in the Dharala decreased 15 centimetres in the last 24 hours and was flowing 43 centimetres above the danger line at Dharala Bridge Point in Kurigram Sadar upazila.

The water level of the Dudhkumar decreased 22 centimetres and the river was flowing 53 centimetres above the danger mark at Noonkhaoa point in the Sadar upazila.

At Chilmari Ghat Point in Chilmari upazila, the Brahmaputra was flowing 68 centimetres above the danger line after the water level decreased 19 centimetres. 

Houses of 46,885 families in different villages under 56 unions of nine upazila were damaged due to the flood and more than 500 hundred families became victims of river erosion, according to the district's relief and disaster management department. 

Besides, 3,856 families are now staying in 132 shelter centres while 970 families have taken shelter on different embankments.

According to the department, 170 tonnes of rice and Tk9 lakh cash aid were allocated for the flood-hit people of the nine upazilas. Still, 230 tonnes of rice and Tk4 lakh are in stock.