Young entrepreneurs from Shibchar upazila in Madaripur have suffered huge losses due to extensive damage to local fruit orchards in this year’s flood.
Although almost three months have passed since the floodwaters receded, these fruit farmers have not yet received any compensation.
According to the District Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), fruit farmers are slowly rebuilding their orchards in Madaripur Sadar, Kalkini, Rajoir and Shibchar upazila in order to recuperate the losses incurred due to heavy floods during the monsoon season this year.
Regarding government aid to help fruit farmers rebuild their orchards, Moazzem Hossain, deputy director of the district DAE office, said the department could not help fruit orchard owners as they were not included in the government aid program intended to help flood-affected farmers in the region.
Shakhawat Hossain, one of the affected malta orchard owners in Niamatkandi of Shibchar upazila, said: “I began building a fruit orchard on 90 decimals of the land at the end of 2017. I had planted malta, lemons, mangoes, lychees and guavas worth around Tk7 lakh.
Unfortunately, around 150 of my 300 malta plants along with the mango and lemon plants had just started bearing fruit when this year’s floods hit the region.
Although my fruit plants were damaged in the floods, I didn’t receive any government support, without which it is impossible for me to rebuild my orchard.”
Afzal Hossain Sobuj, owner of another flood-affected malta orchard in Sonakharkandi village in Beheratla south union of Shibchar upazila, said: “I had planted over 300 malta saplings on 120 decimals of leased land at the end of 2017. I also planted some lemons and guavas. A lot of effort went into that orchard for which I had to borrow money from relatives.
Most of the malta plants had just started to bear fruit when the first flood hit the district. I had suffered a huge loss after around 160 malta plants were damaged in the floods.”
Now Afzal wants to rebuild his orchard with assistance from the government, but when he contacted the agriculture office, they could not provide any aid to him.
Madaripur DAE Deputy Director Moazzem Hossain said he had heard about malta plants and other fruit orchards being damaged in the floods. “But, unfortunately, malta or any fruit orchard owners weren’t included as beneficiaries of the government fund that was allocated to the department for flood-affected farmers.
“The floods this year damaged vast tracts of paddy and jute, among many other crops. To provide government assistance to the flood-affected farmers, the department received an allocation of Tk104 crore. Using that grant money, the department distributed fertilizers and seeds among the affected farmers.”
