Boro at risk in haor areas

Flash floods caused by torrential rains in upstream Meghalaya might damage paddy fields on 4.02 lakh hectares in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrakona, and Kishoreganj.

The situation is particularly concerning as paddy grown during this season, called Boro, is the only produce for the farmers of the region. The land remain submerged for most of the year.

Early flash floods were the worst natural calamity in haor areas in 2017 when almost every paddy field was damaged.

This year, the first flash flood happened in Sunamganj on Friday night. As of yesterday, 910 hectares of cropland got flooded in the four districts.

Sylhet seems to be the worst-hit with 370 hectares submerged as the Sari-Gowain, Surma, Jadukata, and Dhonu-Boulai rivers continue to swell.

Some farmers are harvesting half-ripe paddy in fear of losing it all.

In order to protect the Boro harvest, the government invests in levees in the districts every year.

This year, 816km of dykes were constructed and repaired, spending around Tk 160 crore.

But levees made of mud are now in danger of falling apart even as the farmers are working round the clock to save them.

Farming rights activists say the levees are in such a poor state because of corrupt contractors who get the job of construction and maintenance.

In 2017, flash floods damaged crops, fish and poultry worth over Tk 13,000 crore, according to reports.