Due to the sudden increase in the water level of the Jamuna River, vast low-lying areas of five upazilas in Jamalpur have been flooded in the last few days, causing serious damage to Aman paddy and vegetable fields.
Locals say they have never seen such an untimely rise in water in the last 65 years. Many farmers have raised high aisles to prevent water from entering the fields. If the water continues to rise, the high land will sink too.
According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), the Jamuna water rose for a few days but will recede in the next 72 hours. At 3pm on Tuesday, the water level at Bahadurabad was 87cm below the danger level, the FFWC data showed.
The river was stable in these five upazilas – Sadar, Dewangonj, Islampur, Melandah, Sarishabari -- a week ago. The water level rose due to heavy rainfall in the northern part of the country and India’s Jalpaiguri (West Bengal).
District Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Deputy Director Zakia Sultana said that the sudden increase in water level during the autumn had caused at least 1,200 hectares of cropland in the region to be submerged.
“The exact amount of damage can be said when the water goes down,” she added.
Aman paddy fields of 721 hectares, maize 175 hectares, chili 143 hectares, black gram 77 hectares, vegetables 56 hectares and onion 21 hectares have been submerged in water. Sadar Upazila of the District, river water increases
Shilpi Akhter of Sheikhsadi area under Ghosherpara Union in Melandah was worried about how to bear the expenses in the coming months as her hybrid chili plants on 24 decimals of land have been damaged.
“The untimely surge of water has been a blow for us. We have to suffer a lot for this if we do not get assistance,” she said.
Farmer Bachir Ahmed of Kandarpara area said: “In my 65 years of age, I have never seen the river water rise this much at such an untimely time. Around 75% of my paddy fields have been submerged due to the increase in water level. How will we survive until another paddy season comes? You will die without eating. The government should take some steps for us.”
Abdur Samad Akand, a farmer in the Kandarpara area, said that every farmer in the village had been affected.
Aminul Islam, a farmer from Topkar Char, said: “If water enters the pepper and onion fields, those plants start to rot. My entire fields are submerged underwater.”
Nurjahan Begum of Ghosherpara area said that her family survives with the income earned from Aman paddy and chili.
“My paddy and chili fields of 3.5 bighas of land are flooded. After the water recedes, there is no way to grow crops in that field. Will the government compensate us?” she asked in helplessness.