Continuous rainfall triggered by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has caused Aman paddy crops in Nandigram upazila, Bogra, to bend under the weight of water and wind.
The rain began on Wednesday afternoon, hitting fields just before farmers were preparing to harvest ripe and semi-ripe paddy. Farmers fear significant losses due to the fallen crops. The downpour has also disrupted preparations for Rabi season cultivation of potatoes and mustard. Agricultural officials have advised that water be drained from the affected fields as soon as possible to save the crops.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, about 30 hectares of paddy have been affected in Nandigram so far.
Sources from the office say that while the target for Aman paddy cultivation this season was set at 19,445 hectares, farmers have actually cultivated even more land. For the upcoming Rabi season, targets in the upazila include 4,500 hectares for potatoes, 7,500 hectares for mustard, 45 hectares for onions, and 280 hectares for other vegetables.
Minhajur Rahman Habib, a farmer from Hatlal village, said, “It’s the time to harvest and thresh the paddy. Water is accumulating in ripe fields, soaking the panicles, which could reduce yields. The four days of continuous rain have already caused damage, and further rainfall could worsen the situation.”
Krishna Chandra, a farmer from Dohar village, added, “I have eight bighas of paddy that were ready for harvest, but the rain has flattened the crops. The water is knee-deep in the fields. I had planned to sow two bighas with potatoes and five with mustard, but with the current waterlogged condition, Rabi cultivation seems impossible.”
Upazila Agriculture Officer Gaziul Haque urged farmers to drain water from affected fields as quickly as possible and, if feasible, to bundle the fallen paddy in groups of four to five sheaves. He added that if no more rain occurs, the damage could be minimized.
