Non-stop rain damages vegetables in Jessore

Vegetable growers in two unions under Jessore Sadar are passing their time in frustration and tension as many of the vegetable fields have been destroyed due to non-stop rain for three days.

The roots of all vegetables in Churamankathi and Haibatpur unions are rotting due to the stagnant water, and green leaves are turning yellow.

Farmer Atiar Rahman of Haibatpur village told this correspondent that they would suffer losses from cultivating vegetables this year.

Farmer Shamser Ali of Manikdihi village said he spent over Tk 2 lakh to cultivate various vegetables on three bighas of leased land. Now he was in deep trouble, he added.

Emdad Hossain, deputy director (acting) of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Jessore, said vegetables have been cultivated on 16,900 hectares of land this year, of which those on 5,200 hectares have been damaged owing to excessive downpour.

DAE sources said vegetables have been cultivated on 650 hectares of land in Churamankathi union, and on 977 hectares in Haibatpur union.

Zakir Hossain, sub-assistant agriculture officer, said vegetables fields on 450 hectares were inundated in Churamankathi union. Shahidul Islam, agriculture officer, said vegetables on 700 hectares in Haibatpur union were inundated. Total value of damaged vegetables is estimated to be over Tk 6 lakh, DAE officials said.