The hopes of over 250 farmers in Chalan Beel have been severely dampened as early monsoon floods and continuous rainfall submerged vast paddy fields in the villages of Berabari, Sarishabari, and Paril under Dahiya Union in Singra upazila of Natore. Traditionally known for mustard cultivation, these areas had been replanted with BRRI Dhan-29 rice after the mustard harvest, only to now face devastating crop losses due to rising water levels.
Field observations reveal scenes of distress and resilience. Farmers are seen transporting harvested paddy from submerged plots using boats and makeshift rafts. In many parts of the region, there is no access to land without the aid of boats. Households that once stored their harvested crops indoors are now struggling to protect their remaining yields, leading to further losses.
Despite the adversity, a glimmer of hope remains. Modern agricultural machinery such as combine harvesters and threshers have been mobilized swiftly to assist farmers in salvaging their crops. Harvesting and threshing operations are now ongoing in flooded areas, bringing some relief to the affected communities.
Singra Upazila Agriculture Officer Khandaker Farid acknowledged the challenges caused by the unusual weather, noting that the early floods and persistent rain had disrupted the harvesting process. However, he emphasized that prompt deployment of combine harvesters had helped mitigate further damage.
To prevent such future setbacks, the agriculture department is advising local farmers to shift toward short-duration rice varieties that can be harvested earlier and are less vulnerable to untimely floods. For now, the efforts continue as farmers race against time and water to recover whatever they can from their inundated fields.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
