Bagerhat: Thousands of farmers in Kachua upazila of the district are grappling with severe losses after unseasonal heavy rainfall flooded vast stretches of Boro paddy fields, submerging both standing and harvested crops.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Upazila Agriculture Department reported that around 7,300 hectares of land were cultivated with Boro paddy this season, with expectations of a strong yield. However, continuous rainfall over the past few days has inundated low-lying areas, leaving fields underwater and destroying crops just days before harvest.
Farmers reported that many had already begun harvesting, while others had cut semi-ripe paddy and left it in the fields to dry. The sudden flooding has put these crops at high risk of rotting, making recovery nearly impossible.
‘We were hoping for a good harvest this year, but everything has been washed away,’ said several affected farmers, expressing frustration and despair. Many of them had taken loans to finance cultivation and now fear financial ruin.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Akash Bairagi confirmed the extent of the damage, saying that officials are currently working to compile a list of affected farmers. ‘The full extent of the losses will be determined after field-level assessments,’ he said.
Farmers have urgently called for government intervention, including financial assistance and incentives such as seeds and fertilizers, warning that without immediate support, they may not be able to continue cultivation in the next season.
The unexpected disaster has dealt a significant blow to the region’s agricultural output, raising concerns about the livelihoods of farmers and potential impacts on local food supply.