A field of gold

Gold as far as the eyes can see. 

Bumper yield of paddy brings a smile to Abdul Aziz's face, a lifelong farmer at Gumai Beel, one of the country's largest paddy fields at Rangunia upazila in Chittagong. The smile isn't one borne of pride or satisfaction only; it also comes from a sense of relief.

The field of gold below him is the result of a long battle against the recent persistent flood. A couple of months ago all Aziz could contemplate was counting his losses. He never thought his crops would yield this year around.

Recalling the flood-heavy August of this year, Aziz said three spell of floods wreaked havoc damaging the paddy shoots twice that month. However, with the perseverance of local farmers, a disaster was staved off.

“We did not lose hope, though,” Aziz said.

He waited for the floodwater to recede. Taking a risk, he removed the damaged plants and sowed again. Now, he reaps fruits of the late planting and expects it will help him cover the losses incurred during the tumultuous period.

“Though the yield from the second planting will only help me recoup losses, I am happy,” an ecstatic Aziz told The Daily Star.

Aziz, from Purbo Notun Gram, north of Gumai Beel, lost 200 decimal of paddy land due to flood that occurred thrice with intervals following incessant rains in August.

He wasn't the only one though. Many farmers stared heavy losses in the face.

That is when the agriculture ministry began a programme to help the most vulnerable farmers and turned a disastrous situation around.

Karima Akter, upazila agricultural officer, told The Daily Star that five thousand farmers of four unions in Rangunia upazila depend on Gumai Beel for their livelihood.

This August, among 3.5 thousand hectares, at least two thousand hectares got submerged due to the floods, she added.

Gumai Beel, that borders four unions of Rangunia upazila and encompasses an area of 3,500 hectares, produces 16,800 metric tonnes of Aman. Annually, including Boro, the yield stands at 28,000 metric tonnes.

“Following the disaster, we took some quick initiatives distributing some BIRI-22, 23 variety which takes less time than other varieties to yield including BIRI-49 and 50. The yield now makes the farmers hope again of recouping their losses," she added.

However, out of 2,500 farmers at Gumai Beel, only 200 were recipients of the government programme, said a number of farmers.

During a recent visit, farmers on the east of the field were seen harvesting the rain-fed monsoon grain that typically contributes 38 percent to the country's yearly rice output.

Though Aziz did not get benefit from the government programme, he did not give up. He worked hard and got rewarded at the end of the day.