Cyclone Yaas: Damage in agriculture becomes visible as tidal water recedes

Damage in the agriculture sector caused by the onrush of tidal water in the croplands due to the impact of Cyclone 'Yaas' has become visible as water from the fields has started receding.

Summer vegetables as well as Aush paddy saplings have been badly damaged due the brief flooding.

"I will have to plant Aush paddy saplings again as they have been damaged remaining under water for over four days," said farmer Shahidul Islam of Indurkani upazila in the district.

Like him most of the farmers have faced the same problem and they will have to replant Aush saplings.

"For the last few weeks, I had been collecting lady's finger from my vegetable garden. But due to tidal waters the plants have been totally damaged," said another farmer Abdus Sattar from Charakhali village in the same upazila.

Of the seven upazilas in the district, Mathbaria has been the worst affected as it is nearer to the Bay of Bengal and saline water entered the upazila flooding Aush fields and vegetable gardens.

"Over 80 percent of the Aush seedbeds and around 50 percent of summer vegetables have been damaged in the upazila as saline water flooded the fields," said Md Shawkat Hosain, Mathbaria upazila agriculture officer.

"Had it rained along with the tidal water, the loss would have been less," he said adding saline water stagnated the fields for over three days. 

Meanwhile, Shepon Chandra Ghosh, Pirojpur Sadar upazila agriculture officer, said that the Aush paddy fields, planted late, have been affected more.  

"If the weather does not become bad again, the loss for the farmer will not be high," he said adding that for the last two days water level is receding from the fields.  

He has also said that if paddy saplings remain under water for three to four days, they are damaged.  

This year 17,378 hectares land has been targeted for Aush cultivation in the district. Out of which, 63 percent target has been fulfilled.