As floodwaters have affected peanut farming badly in Lalmonirhat, farmers are not able to recover the production cost.

Due to the early floods, the farmers of the island areas could not harvest much crops. Winter crops like potatoes, sweet pumpkins, and maize were also damaged by the hailstorm. Various vegetables including onion, garlic and chili have been destroyed by the floods in the month of Chaitra.

There was a hope with peanuts, the gold for the island region. However, this has also been destroyed by the floods this month. All in all, the farmers have suffered extreme losses this year.

In dry season, the farming is the main source of income for the people of the char area. When the harvest is up, we pay off the debts and go for the alternative profession for the rest of the months, farmers said, adding, and this year situation reversed. Sudden floods hit the banks of the Teesta. Due to the early floods, the farmers of the char areas could not harvest crops.

Jamir Uddin, an almond farmer from Govardhan village said that in almond cultivation there is more profit at low cost on the sandy land of Char area. The cost of cultivating almonds in every 27 percent of the land is only Tk 4,000, and the production of nuts is 4 to 5 mound. 

Peanuts current market value is Tk 3 to 4 thousand. Last year “I got Tk 5 lakh by selling various crops.” “I didn't even get the production cost this year. Everything has been destroyed by early floods.”

Mahishkhocha Union Parishad member Matiar Rahman Moti told banglanews that no farmer in the char area has benefited this year. Every crop has been destroyed by hail and floods. The people of this area have become financially crippled due to food shortage. He urged the government to rehabilitate these farmers.

Hamidur Rahman, deputy director of the Lalmonirhat Agriculture Extension Department, told banglanews that 363 hectares of crop land was inundated in five upazilas of the district. 

An application has been made for the rehabilitation of 6,300 affected farmers. When the allocation comes, it will be distributed among the farmers, said Hamidur.

BDST: 1544 HRS, JUNE 29, 2022
MSK