Timely harvesting for food security

Farmers in Sylhet's haor region are deeply worried that they may lose their crops to flash floods due to heavy rains that have been forecasted for later this week. These lowlands produce a major supply of the rice that feeds the country. Therefore, loss of these crops will have a huge impact on food security of the nation, apart from bringing financial ruin to these farmers. Helping these farmers to save their crops must be done at all costs. The government is trying to address this emergency in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, which makes the job all the more daunting.

The forecasts by experts say that at least 11 rivers of the region may overflow—water levels have already risen dangerously. In fact, all four districts of the Sylhet region may experience flash floods and so far, only 10 percent of the harvesting has been done, according to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Sylhet. Travel restrictions and a nationwide shutdown to contain the coronavirus spread have resulted in drastic shortages of labour to help harvest the crops. Farmers are finding it very difficult to save their crops on time because of this.

It is therefore a reassuring development that the government is trying its best to address this crisis of manpower by mobilising workers from different parts of the country, especially from the northern region, and sending them to the haor areas to harvest the paddy. According to an official of the DAE, labourers of sand-lifting and stone-lifting sectors, as well as tea garden workers, have been engaged to harvest the crops.

No doubt it is a challenge to transport workers to the haors during a nationwide shutdown while ensuring their safety. Thus, it is laudable that the government is making special arrangements to transport workers safely, as well as taking other measures such as strengthening embankments to keep the water out and giving farming tools to the labourers. We hope that these measures are done expeditiously so that the paddy can be harvested on time and the farmers get a fair price for their crops. One of the biggest concerns of the shutdown, which is necessary, is the possibility of food shortages. Government interventions like this are crucial to ensure food security and survival of those who ensure it—the farmers.