M Rahman Ranju, Kurigram: Hundreds of acres of aman fields have been razed to the ground in the last three days due to heavy rains, strong winds and storms. The farmer`s dream has been shattered by the recent emergence of sheaf and looting of half-ripe paddy fields.

Rain and gusty winds have caused severe damage to aman paddy in the current season in the district. Aman paddy, which has just survived the recent floods, has just blossomed. It is raining and the wind is blowing. Besides, a lot of paddy is lying on the ground in the wind. In which there is no possibility of producing any type of paddy. Besides, the farmers are of the opinion that the vegetables will also be severely damaged due to the continuous rains.

Aman paddy planted in most of the highlands of the district has already fallen to the ground. The search revealed that most of the paddy fields in the district, Nageshwari Bhurungamari, Rajarhat, Ulipur, Sadar and Fulbari upazilas have fallen.

Mominul Islam, Helal Uddin, Sayed Ali and Zahurul Islam, farmers of West Fulmati village in Naodanga union of Fulbari upazila, said that the aman field was tilted by two and a half bighas each. We are very worried about the loss of crops. And a few days later the paddy was ripe in the field. I do not know what will happen to us.

Shahid Mia, Abul Hossain, a farmer of Kedar Union in Nageshwari Upazila, said that only flowers came to their aman field and the paddy was severely damaged due to wind and rain.

 The strong winds are likely to cause severe damage to the district`s aman paddy as well as vegetables and chillies.

Shamsuddin Miah, acting deputy director of the Kurigram District Agriculture Extension Department, said 2,274 hectares of aman fields have been washed away by rains and strong winds so far, of which about 900 hectares of aman fields have been completely destroyed. However, at the field level, farmers are being advised to cut the fallen paddy plants in small bundles. If the paddy plants are uprooted, the farmers will get some protection.

The agriculture department further said that the target for aman cultivation in 1 lakh 15 thousand hectares of land has been set this season. Aman has been cultivated in more than 1 lakh 19 thousand hectares of land.

Earlier, 9,097 hectares of aman were damaged in the floods. This time Aman paddy has suffered another loss due to rains and strong winds. As a result, those concerned are skeptical about achieving the target of rice production.