Aman fields ruined by pest attacks, water logging
Water logging coupled with pest attacks in Aman rice fields dealt a devastating blow to over a hundred farmers in Barguna Sadar upazila.
Many of the farmers, in Charakgachhia village of Burirchar union, said their crops rotted in the field due to stagnant water that accumulated during incessant rain over the past few days.
Others said infestation of 'Mazra', a pest that feeds on rice plants, also destroyed the Aman crops.
The farmers in the area depend on Aman harvest for their own consumption till harvest of Aman in the next season. But losing their primary cash crop at this time of the season leaves them no room for cultivating it again.
During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent witnessed the devastation. Aman fields in a vast area, on way to Barguna town from Purakata ferry dock, were found damaged severely and it looked as if a wildfire has ripped through the area.
While speaking with this correspondent, all the affected farmers in the area were found to be gripped by anxiety and uncertainty over how they would recover the loss.
Jahangir, an affected farmer from the village, said water logging caused by nonstop rain over the past few days damaged Aman plants on his two acres of land.
His uncle, Abdus Salam Mia, 50, said he was worried about how he would look after his family through the rest of the year, till the next Aman harvest, as almost all Aman plants on 1.5 acres of his land were destroyed due to the stagnant rainwater.
The rainwater could not be dispersed from the Aman fields as the nearest culvert was under construction during the rain, he also said.
When his 2.5-acre Aman field remained inundated with stagnant rainwater, Mazra infestation spread in the plants, said Moslem Uddin Hawlader, another farmer from the same village.
Under the circumstances, there is no hope for his family of six as there is no prospect of reaping any harvest from the field now, he lamented.
Farmer Majed Khandaker said, "The agriculture office did not arrange any assistance to pull us out of the situation yet. Hopefully they will rehabilitate us."
Acknowledging that Aman fields in the village have been damaged due to Mazra infestation as well as water logging, Barguna Sadar Upazila Agriculture Extension Officer Mostafizur Rahman said they were yet to ascertain the exact area that had been affected.
He also said since the affected farmers will not be able to cultivate Aman in their fields before the next season, a list of the affected farmers would be prepared for rehabilitating them.