Teesta chars get green

The once sandy and barren char (landmass emerging from riverbed) areas along the Teesta river in Dimla upazila of the district now present a soothing green landscape all around as flood-affected farmers are cultivating different crops there to make up the losses caused by this year's flood. 

Char Kharibari, Baishpukur, Kisamater char, Satunama, Bhendabari and Jhar Shinheswar chars have turned green with crops as the agriculture department is providing active support to the farmers.

Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Dimla Anwarul Islam said farmers in those chars are cultivating maize, peanut, pumpkin, mustard seed, potato, pepper, wheat, onion, pulses and kalo jira, which was thought to be impossible only a couple of years ago.

“It is very difficult to grow crops on char lands as tender plants die due to scarcity of water and different micro-nutrients,” said Upazila Agriculture Extension Officer Tapon Kumar Roy. 

There are 5,000 acres of land in Teesta chars under the upazila and farmers faced setback this year as their paddy fields were flooded twice, he said, adding that DAE provided free seeds and fertilizer to 1,115 farmers under post-flood rehabilitation programme and gave incentive to 2,005 more farmers.

Farmer Kuddus Ali, 52, of Char Kharibari said, “We have no way but to live on agriculture as there is no means of alternative income in the remote area.”

“I planted maize on two bighas of land and expect to get 80 maunds of yield. My wife brought irrigation water from the river, although it is a very hard work,” said Rafiqul Islam of Kisamater char.

Farmer Hafizul Islam of Baishpukur char planted pumpkin on one bigha and is expecting to get three tonnes of the vegetable. He said production cost is very high as additional fertilizer is needed for the infertile soil and carrying cost of bringing fertilizer by boat is also high as they have to get it from Sutibari Haat, which is 10 miles away.

Farmer Akbar Ali, 70, also head of the village committee of Char Kharibari char, said, “We cultivate only in the dry season, keeping the land fallow for eight months.”

“Char farmers grow crops on sandy lands through perseverance and hard work. We are preparing a project proposal especially for chars to encourage farmers to cultivate different crops there,” Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Humayun Kabir said.