Rain-induced crop damage inflicts colossal losses on Bogura farmers

BOGURA, July 28: Weeks of heavy monsoon rain and upstream flows from northern rivers have damaged crops largely across parts of Bogura, leaving thousands of farmers facing steep financial losses while government relief remains limited, according to farmers, agriculture officials and district authorities.

Preliminary estimates show crops worth more than Tk 50 million have been destroyed on about 517 hectares of farmland, directly affecting nearly 5,000 farmers.

Officials caution that the losses are likely to increase once floodwaters recede and a full assessment is completed.

Beyond the monetary damage, farmers say the flooding has inflicted a range of non-economic losses and damages (NELD) that are harder to quantify, including mental stress from repaying loans borrowed from relatives and local NGOs, uncertainty over children's tuition fees and mounting pressure to meet household expenses.

The district administration has so far allocated Tk 500,000 in relief and rehabilitation assistance, an amount agriculture officials say is insignificant compared with the scale of the damage.

"The current estimates are preliminary," officials said by adding that the extent of damaged farmland could rise after floodwaters recede.

They also warned that prolonged inundation could lead to a shortage of summer vegetables in northern Bangladesh unless affected farmers receive seeds, fertiliser and financial support quickly.

Farmers say immediate drainage of floodwater is essential to prevent further crop losses and ease their financial burden.

According to the district Relief and Rehabilitation Department, a comprehensive damage assessment is still being prepared.

Based on information provided by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the administration proposed allocating Tk 200,000, eight tonnes of rice and 200 packets of dry food for Sariakandi upazila, along with Tk 50,000 each for Dhunat and Sonatala upazilas. The assistance is expected to be distributed next month.

The local weather office said rainfall during the current monsoon season has exceeded last year's level by 195.3 millimetres. In the first 10 days up to July 13 alone, Bogura recorded 309 millimetres of rainfall.

At the same time, upstream water inundated 16 unions across seven of the district's 12 upazilas, according to the DAE.

Officials said vegetables were cultivated on 6,751 hectares this season, but excessive rainfall submerged crops on 517 hectares of land. The worst-hit crops include Aus paddy, Aman seedbeds, jute, chilli and summer vegetables, affecting 4,961 farmers.

Sariakandi upazilla has suffered the heaviest agricultural damage, with around 200 hectares of land along the Jamuna River under water.

Flooding also affected 75 hectares in Kahalu, 65 hectares each in Dupchanchia and Adamdighi, 48 hectares in Sonatala, 27 hectares in Shibganj and 24 hectares in Shahjahanpur.

Among damaged crops, Aman seedbeds accounted for 156 hectares, followed by 136 hectares of vegetables, 135 hectares of jute, 34 hectares of Aus paddy, 33 hectares of chilli and 13 hectares of other crops. Ashutosh Modak, a farmer from Shakharia South Para in Sariakandi, told the FE that he invested about Tk 50,000 in pointed gourd cultivation.

"I managed to sell part of the produce, but continuous rain has destroyed the entire field. I have no capital left to invest again and am facing huge losses," he said.

Farhad Molla, another farmer from the same area said he spent Tk 8,000 cultivating bottle gourd and pumpkin on 14 decimals of land. Heavy rain collapsed

the trellis and the crops rotted, he said.

Abdur Rahman, a farmer from Kalibala, said he lost Tk 30,000 in taro cultivation this year after making a profit from the crop last year. Like many others, he said he now lacks the funds to resume farming.

When contacted Md Motlubur Rahman, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Bogura said around 96 hectares of summer vegetables had already been destroyed.

"If seeds, fertiliser and financial incentives are not provided quickly, the northern region could face a shortage of summer vegetables," he said.

He said the estimated Tk 50 million in crop losses was only a preliminary figure and that the final damage assessment would likely be much higher after floodwaters recede.

District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Md Motahar Hossain acknowledged that the current allocation was insufficient.

"The amount can be increased if the Deputy Commissioner requests additional funds," he said.

Deputy Commissioner Toufiqur Rahman told the FE that a proposal had already been submitted seeking additional government support.

"So far, we have received Tk 500,000 and 100 tonnes of rice," he told the FE.

"The process of preparing a list of affected farmers is underway. We will send an emergency allocation proposal to the ministry this week and ensure that genuinely affected farmers receive seeds, fertilisers and financial assistance as quickly as possible," he went on.

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