Teesta no longer a river, now vast farmland
Sabbir Hossain, Hatibandha, (Lalmonirhat)
The Teesta riverbed, once barren, has now become a thriving farmland filled with crops. Farmers are growing maize, wheat, potatoes, onions, garlic, mustard, rice, chili, and various vegetables across its vast stretches. This year, nearly 50,000 hectares of land have been cultivated, thanks to fertile silt deposited after floods.
According to Agriculture Department, previously only 22,000-23,000 hectares were farmed during the dry season. But this year, maize was grown on 20,000 hectares, rice on 5,000 hectares, and winter vegetables on 25,000 hectares. The fertile soil has boosted crop yields, bringing hope for better production if no untimely floods occur.
Farmers like Gulzar Khan and Mithun Kumar expressed their joy, saying they can now grow three crops a year and even fish during off-seasons. They praised the river for blessing them with fertile land but now a days facing heavy water crisis.
Local agriculture officials stated that special support is being provided to farmers, including low-interest loans and field guidance. Future projects are also planned to further assist farmers and increase productivity.
The transformation of the Tista’s sandy riverbed into fertile farmland has created new opportunities for farmers, thanks to government support and efforts by the agriculture department. However, if the current situation continues, the next generation may see the Tista reduced to nothing more than a narrow drain.
