Side by side with the devastating coronavirus pandemic, the ongoing flood has been causing a huge financial loss to the betel leaf farmers in the district and poses a serious threat to the cash crop farming in the years to come.
According to sources of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and farmers concerned, the extent of loss caused by the natural disasters is estimated to be around Tk5.5 crore, which is detrimental to the farmers.
Shamsul Haque, Deputy Director of DAE, Rajshahi, said betel leaf farming field (Baraj) on around 20 hectares of land have been inundated and remaining waterlogged in Mohanpur and Durgapur Upazilas causing huge financial loss.
Besides, many of the baraj in Bagmara upazila are submerged underwater because of rivers flowing above the danger mark through the upazila.
Belal Hossain, 53, a farmer of Mohanpur upazila, said he had cultivated betel leaf on 10 katha of land around two years back and the entire cultivation is submerged under water for the last two weeks, causing loss of around Tk1.5 lakh. “I have no capacity to recoup the loss,” he said, adding many of his fellow farmers are facing the same.
Siddiqur Rahman, another farmer of Laobaria village under Bagmara Upazila, said his baraj has been flooded just after the dyke along Lawbaria village in Dippur union of the upazila was damaged and breached last week.
Farmer Asadul Islam of Senopara village said two of his three baraj were submerged and he sustained loss in income because of this. “Betel leaf farming is worse affected in Udpara, Baje Goalkandi and Senopara villages of Goalkandi union.”
Agriculturist Shamsul Haque said most of the betel leaf farming fields in Bagmara upazila were affected by floodwaters due to collapse of the flood control embankment.
Last week, a flood control dam at the Laubaria village collapsed and flooded six nearby villages, causing severe damage to houses and crops, and contaminated sources of drinking water. After that, different areas were flooded due to torrential rains.
Meanwhile, betel leaf farmers have been facing a huge financial loss due to the Covid-19 pandemic since its outbreak began.
Farmers said the amount of losses have been enhanced to a greater extent as they are being forced to sell their harvested betel leaf at a lower rate amid the fall of demand triggered by Covid-19 pandemic.
Jahangir Alam, 45, a betel leaf farmer of Dhurail village under Mohanpur upazila, said production of the cash crop is very good this year but its retail price has been reduced abnormally in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier, a big size 64-leaf bundle was sold at Tk70 but now it is being sold at Tk10-15. A small sized bundle is now being sold at a mere price of Tk2-3 against the previous Tk50, he also said adding that this has been the reason of betel leaf farmers' great frustration.
Rafiqul Islam, another farmer from the same village, said betel leaf couldn’t be sold to wholesalers out of the district this year due to the lack of demand.
Farmer Abul Kalam Azad of Halidagachhi village said farmers are even failing to recoup the harvesting cost of the crop.
Small shops and vendors of betel leaf had shut their business down since the pandemic began.
DAE sources said around 68,976 tons of betel leaf are produced from 4,311 hectares of land in the district every year. The yearly value of the crop is around Tk3.61 crore, which is higher than the seasonal mango farming as betel leaf is a year-round crop.
Agriculturist Shamsul Haque said Mohanpur, Durapur and Bagmara upazilas are the highest betel leaf producing areas in the district and around 69,228 farmers are involved in the farming.
But unfortunately this year’s Covid-19 pandemic coupled with the flood situation has brought devastating consequences to the betel leaf farmers, he continued, adding that the crop has been a promising sector in the district’s agriculture.