Crop drying puts Rangpur roads in perilous states

RANGPUR, June 29: Paved roads in different areas of Rangpur district are being used by farmers for crop drying and threshing, creating perilous conditions for vehicles as well as commuters.

It is learnt that in all eight upazilas of the district, farmers take over roadways to process and dry their harvested paddy, straw and maize. The resulting obstructions restrict vehicle movement and frequently contribute to fatal accidents.

During visits to different areas, it was found that peasants in the district are occupying roads and highways for threshing and drying their harvested paddy, maize and straw, effectively turning the district's roads into agricultural drying yards and heavily obstructing the movement of vehicles. Sources alleged that during every harvest season, farmers occupy paved roads to dry and thresh their harvested crops, turning busy thoroughfares into hazardous zones for commuters and causing frequent accidents.

While visiting different roads including Rangpur-Dinajpur road, Rangpur-Kurigram and Rangpur-Lalmonirhat road, this FE correspondent found the roads almost covered with crops and straw as farmers of nearby villages bring bundles of harvested paddy and maize on the roads.

Talking to The Financial Express, some motorists noted that stray straw entangles in wheels of their vehicles, resulting in dangerous slips. "This is especially risky for motorcyclists, as riding through dense layers of maize and paddy straw poses a significant safety hazard. Sabul Mia (45), a truck driver, said, "I drive a truck loaded with goods from Dinajpur to Rangpur along the Rangpur-Dinajpur regional highway while activities ranging from paddy threshing to drying paddy and straw take place on both sides. This has narrowed the usable width of the road, leaving no way to drive at any significant speed."

"It is difficult to drive faster than 30 km/h along the entire stretch. Those drying paddy and straw on the road are paying no attention to their surroundings. Everyone is moving about haphazardly; I narrowly escaped accidents three times just on my way here, he added."

A number of motorbike users of Pirgachha and Mithapukur uppazila told The Financial Express that they have to go to upazila headquarters through the roads five or six times in a week riding motorbikes. Many of them met accidents and some occasions narrowly escaped serious accident, they added.

Considering the adverse situation, they urged the authorities concerned to take necessary measures in this regard. On the other hand, farmers claim that they choose to dry and thresh crops on roadsides. This method prevents the crops from losing their bright colour due to sand and soil contamination common in open fields.

Md. Sirajul Islam, additional director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Rangpur Region, said, "Accidents frequently occur because paddy and straw are dried on the roads. It is necessary to address this issue seriously. Alongside the government, large-scale or affluent local farmers could construct community-based drying yards. That way, there would be no need to take the risk of drying agricultural produces on the roads," he added.

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