Kalboishakhi storm in Phulbari : Extensive damage to crops, farmers in distress in char areas
Mostafizer Rahman Jahangir Fulbari (Kurigram)
The "Kalboishakhi' storm in Phulbari, Kurigram, has caused extensive damage to the growing crops in the fields. The banana trees in the banana garden have been destroyed by the storm.
The corn field has also been damaged. Many farmers in the Char Mekhli area of Barabhita Union of the upazila have faced losses due to such a bad outcome of the crop. The affected farmers have said that this time, far from making a profit from farming, they will not even be able to raise the money for farming.
The total agricultural land area in the upazila is 12,445 hectares. In the current season, various crops including boro, wheat, corn, banana, sunflower, sweet pumpkin, and banana have been cultivated in the upazila.
However, only boro cultivation target was set at 10,150 hectares of land, and 10,205 hectares were achieved.
The affected farmers said, we, the people of the char, cultivate land on a lease basis. This time too, we have cultivated banana. The damage we suffered in the Kalbaishakhi storm will be a drag on our capital, let alone profit.
Agriculture Officer Nilufa Yasmin said, farmers in Phulbari Upazila have suffered losses of 35 hectares of maize, 1 hectare of banana and 1 hectare of vegetables due to the Boishakhi storm. We hope that the maize will not be affected much and the farmers will be able to harvest well, but there will be some loss. We are inquiring from the Agriculture Office and providing assistance to the farmers and steps will be taken after the monsoon.
