Incessant rain, storm damage crops in Jhalakathi, Pirojpur

Continuous rain for the last four days has caused extensive damage to boro paddy and mung bean fields in Jhalakathi while a sudden storm on Saturday night caused huge damage to crops, houses and property in Pirojpur.

“Boro paddy on over 2,000 hectares of land and mung beans, locally called moog dal, on 1,500 hectares have been badly damaged,” said Sheikh Abu Bakar, DD of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Jhalakathi.

“Many farmers informed me that their paddy fields were damaged by the wind and rain,” said Agriculture Officer of Nalchhity upazila Md Sayedur Rahman.

 “Paddy plants on my field are now lying on the ground. They will be attacked by various insects,” said Al-Amin of Rajapur.

“All my paddy plants were broken and fell on the ground, and I am facing huge loss,” said Nur Alam in Nalchhity.

“My mung bean crop has been damaged by the excessive rain,” said Manir Hossain of Jhalakathi Sadar.  

Farmers of Jhalakathi, Nalchhity, Kathalia and Rajapur upazilas said they are facing a similar fate.

Boro paddy was planted on nearly 9,000 hectares of land in four upazilas, of which 10 percent is likely to be damaged, Bakar said, while farmers say that around 30 percent will be damaged.

Mung bean on 1,500 hectares of land are the worst affected as most of the plants have gone under water, he added.

Meanwhile, in Pirojpur, a sudden storm with rain on Saturday night caused huge losses of crops, houses and property.

Trees were uprooted in different areas, disconnecting electric lines and damaging houses.

Villagers said the thunderstorm struck around 10:00pm and damaged their property. Electric connection has remained suspended in the district as the lines were snapped by falling trees.

A boro field lies ravaged in Satpakia area of Nalchhity upazila under Jhalakathi yesterday as continuous rain and gusty wind affected the area during the last few days. Photo: Star

“Storm has damaged banana trees in our area,” said Elal Uddin Sheikh, 60, of Indurkani upazila, adding most banana orchards in the area were affected by the storm.

The storm also blew away the tin roof of G Haider High School in Pirojpur Sadar upazila.

The losses caused by the storm in the agriculture sector could not be known as the agriculture department could not assess  till yesterday.

Pirojpur DAE Deputy Director Md Abul Hossain Talukder said the extent of damage is not that much.