RAJSHAHI, July 26, 2020 (BSS) – Side by side with the devastating coronavirus pandemic, the ongoing flood has been causing a huge financial loss to the betel leaf farmers in the district besides posing a serious threat to the cash crop farming in the years to come.
According to sources of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and farmers concerned, the extent of loss caused by the natural disasters is estimated to be around Taka 5.5 crore which is detrimental to the farmers.
Shamsul Haque, Deputy Director of DAE, Rajshahi, said betel leaf farming field (Baraj) on around 20 hectares of land have been inundated and waterlogged only in Mohanpur and Durgapur Upazilas causing huge financial loss.
Besides, many of the baraj in Bagmara Upazila have become waterlogged because of rising water in the rivers flowing through the upazila.
Belal Hossain, 53, a farmer of Mohanpur upazila, said he had cultivated betel leaf on ten katha of land around two years back and the entire of the cultivated land remained waterlogged for the last two weeks causing loss of around Taka 1.5 lakh. “I have no capacity to recoup the loss,” he said, adding many of his fellow farmers are facing the same.
Siddiqur Rahman, another farmer of Laobaria village under Bagmara Upazila, said his baraj has been flooded just after damage from the flood control embankment at Lawbaria village under Dippur Union of the upazila last week.
Farmer Asadul Islam of Senopara village said two of his three baraj were submerged shutting down his way of income. Udpara, Baje Goalkandi and Senopara of Goalkandi Union are the worst affected areas in terms of affecting the betel leaf farming.
Agriculturist Shamsul Haque said most of the betel leaves farming fields in Bagmara Upazila were affected by the floodwater due to collapse of flood control embankment.
Last week, a flood control dam at the Laubaria village collapsed and flooded six nearby villages, causing severe damage to houses, crops and drinking water. After that, different areas started flooding due to torrential rains.
Meanwhile, betel leaf farmers have been facing a huge financial loss due to the Covid-19 pandemic since its outbreak began.
Farmers said their amount of losses has been enhanced to a greater extent as they are being forced to sell their harvested betel leaf at a lower rate compared to the normal time amid the pandemic situation.
Jahangir Alam, 45, a farmer of Dhurail Village under Mohanpur Upazila, said production of the cash crop is very good this year but its retail price has been reduced abnormally in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier, a big size 64-leaf bundle was sold at Taka 70 but it is being sold at Taka 10-15 at present while the small size at Taka two to three against the previous Taka 50 frustrating the growers badly, he added.
Rafiqul Islam, 54, another farmer of the same village, said betel leaf couldn’t be exported besides non-coming of traders and business from different areas this year due to the global fallout resulting in abnormal price declining of the crop in local markets.
Farmer Abul Kalam Azad of Halidagachhi village said even the farmers are also failing to recoup the harvesting cost of the crop.
Small shops and vendors of betel leaf have shut their business since the pandemic began.
DAE sources said around 68,976 tonnes of betel leaf are produced from 4,311 hectares of land in the district every year valued at around Taka 3.61 crore which is higher than the seasonal mango marketing as betel leaf is a year-round crop.
Agriculturist Shamsul Haque said Mohanpur, Durapur and Bagmara Upazila are the highest betel leaf producing areas in the district and around 69,228 farmers are involved in the farming.
But, unfortunately, this year’s Covid-19 pandemic coupled with the flood situation has brought devastation to the betel leaf farmers together with the promising sector, he added.