Flooding and waterlogging have damaged thousands of hectares of Boro paddy fields in Netrokona, affecting more than 77,000 farmers across the district, according to local agriculture officials.
The agriculture department said Boro paddy was cultivated on 185,047 hectares of land this season. Crops on 16,877 hectares in six upazilas, including Madan, Mohanganj and Khaliajuri, have been destroyed following heavy rainfall and poor drainage in the haor region.
Farmers have been trying to salvage submerged crops by cutting paddy from flooded fields and transporting it by boat.
“The haor water isn’t draining, the rainwater isn’t draining,” one farmer said. “All the land is under water now. We are hiring laborers for 1,500 taka a day to cut the paddy. What will we have left?”
Officials said a list of affected farmers is being prepared for possible assistance measures.
“The navigability of the river has decreased,” a district agriculture officer said. “Higher authorities have been informed, and further action will be taken according to their decision.”
According to the agriculture department, Netrokona has more than 400,000 farmers, with 77,363 affected by this year’s flooding.