M Rahman Ranju, Kurigram: In Kurigram, the farmers of Banavasi have faced extreme losses by cultivating vegetables with high profit loans. They have to count the losses due to crop failure due to prolonged floods this season. Extreme frustration has appeared in their eyes as they have not been able to bring half the crop home. Even if the farmers demand to be rehabilitated and compensated by the government, the incentive will not reach everyone.

According to the District Agriculture Extension Department office sources, 17,556 hectares of arable land in the district has been completely submerged due to the ongoing prolonged floods. Of this, 11 thousand 662 hectares of land was destroyed. The loss of 1 lakh 34 thousand 858 farmers is 140 crore 67 lakh Taka. The most affected are Jute, Aus paddy, aman seedbed and vegetables. The loss of jute is 4,530 hectares, that of aus paddy is 4,430 hectares, aman seedbed is 1,071 hectares, vegetables are 953 hectares, sesame is 302 hectares, chilli is 205 hectares, china is 140 hectares, kaun is 20 hectares and maize is 14 hectares. In such a situation, the farmers who have been cultivating with private loans are in dire straits. They are in trouble as they are not able to pay the installment as the loan has not been recovered.

The Department of Agriculture will provide assistance to the affected farmers by constructing 105 acres of community seedbed, more than 100 floating seedbeds and 112 tray seedbeds to help only 7,067 farmers. In addition, 1,200 bighas of land will benefit 1,200 farmers through masakalai activities.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension. Mostafizur Rahman Pradhan said that this time the amount of damage due to prolonged floods is huge. The government is trying to stand by the victims. In addition to Aman seedbeds, 27,761 vegetable growers are being brought under incentives in phases to make up for the loss of coronal and flood.