Farmers in Sunamganj haor areas are yet to prepare Boro paddy seedbeds due to waterlogging, following damage of sluice gates during the last floods.
Water could not recede as most of the 56 sluice gates in 28 haors (large water bodies) of the district are damaged, hampering preparation of seedbeds.
District Water Development Board (WDB) Executive Engineer Abu Bakar Siddiq Bhuiyan said the water resources ministry allotted Tk 30 lakh for measures to drain out water quickly.
"Boro cultivation will be delayed this season, so we cannot hope for good output. We will have to sow the seeds within 10 to 12 days. We may not get perfect saplings during winter, which will affect the total cultivation. Besides, we will have to harvest late, when flash flood may damage the crops," said farmer Binod Das of Marala village in Tahirpur upazila.
Abul Kalam of Ahammak Khali village in Shanir Haor area said they have around 30 acres of land in the haor. They have lost interest in cultivation as the crops had been damaged due to the flood last year. Sharecroppers are also not willing to cultivate the lands.
Kalam said they could not prepare their seedbeds due to waterlogging and leased only 16 acres of land at Tk 40,000 this year while the rest may remain fallow. Fear of loss is worrying the farmers in the haor areas, he added.
Milton Mia said they could not reap their crop properly last year and maintained their families by taking loan from different sources. He said they are to remain unfed if they cannot reap the crop this year.
Haor Bachao Sunamganj Bachao Andolon Member Secretary Bindu Talukdar said farmers are uncertain about the start of Boro cultivation this season due to waterlogging.
He said if the cultivation cannot be started in time harvesting will be delayed and early flood may inundate the Boro lands.
Engineer Abu Bakar said they have submitted a project of Tk 1 crore to the ministry concerned to repair the sluice gates.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Deputy Director Md Zahedul Haq said the floodwater is taking time to recede as their was excessive rain during last season and the farmers are preparing seedbeds on highlands. Though BRRI Dhan-29 farming time has passed, there is still time for BRRI Dhan-28, he added.
He said hoping that BRRI Dhan-28 will be cultivated on more lands this year and the production will be good If the weather remains favourable.
According to the district administration, Boro rice was grown on around 2. 23 lakh hectares of land in 154 haors in the district. Heavy rain and hill water damaged crops on around 1.66 lakh hectares, affecting around 3.26 lakh farmers. The farmers, however, said the damage will be twice as much as the government's estimate.
