At least 300 bighas of land are losing topsoil every year, which is being used to manufacture bricks at 31 brick kiln fields in five upazilas under the district.
Farmers are sometimes lured by the brick kiln owners into selling the surface layer of their farmland’s soil which ultimately hits production.
The Agriculture Department in the district is yet to take any steps to save the farmland from the clutches of brick kilns owners.
Many agriculture officials alleged that they ceased to take action against the owners because of their political and economic power.
Agriculture officials, brick-manufacturing labourers and local farmers said the topsoil of nine to 10 bighas of land were necessary to manufacture about 10 to 12 lakh bricks.
They said at first, the brick kiln owners collected topsoil from the neighbouring farmland surrounding the brick kiln areas in the locality by tempting them into selling the upper layer of their land; sometimes they even used force.
Jibon Chandra Saha, manager of a local brick kiln at Madonerchak village in Lalmonirhat Sadar, said the owners purchased the topsoil of one-bigha farmland between Tk6,000 and Tk12,000 from the farmers.
A brick kiln owner bought topsoil of nine to 10 bighas of farmland every year, he said.
Kashem Ali, 60, a farmer at Bamonerbasa village of Kaliganj upazila, said he was forced to sell topsoil of his two bighas of farmland to a local brick kiln owner this year.
“Like me, all other farmers in the village are losing topsoil of their farmland every year, he said, adding that he sold topsoil of one-bigha farmland for Tk8,000 only.
Another farmer Nazrul Islam said: “I know topsoil is very important for cropland, but I had no way but comply with their demands to save my land.”
Farmers Jamal Uddin, Mansur Ali, Abdul Jabbar, Meher Ali, Sultan Miah and others in the village in Lalmonirhat Sadar said the brick kiln owners cashed in on the topsoil purchase by digging out the surface layer of soil at least two feet in depth.
It was not possible for us now to get 50% output, and ultimately the fertility of farmland is being lost, they said.
“I got about 40 maunds of paddy from two bighas of farmland three years ago, but the production has declined by 50% as I sold the topsoil to a local brick kiln owner,” said farmer Farhadul Islam in Doljor village under Aditmari upazila.
Contacted, ASB Brick Kiln owner Sahidul Islam at Bamonerbasa village under Kaliganj upazila said they knew the topsoil was very fertile for producing crops, but the farmers sold that to them.
“We never face any protest from the Agriculture Department for using the topsoil in our brick kilns,” he said, denying the allegations that the farmers were forced to sell the topsoil of their land.
Agriculture and Environment Coordinator Mamunur Rashid of an NGO, RDRS, said the use of topsoil for brick manufacturing badly hit crop output.
He called upon the authorities concerned for immediate steps to stop digging out the surface layer of soil.
Admitting that the topsoil is used in the kilns, Deputy Director Abdul Mazid of the Agriculture Extension Department said he would take necessary steps with the help of district administration to save the farmland from being barren.
