Even a year or two ago, farmers of Naoda Khemirdiar area under Bheramara upazila in Kushtia were making a living by cultivating the vast land around Maula Beel all year round. But due to lack of water this year, they could not harvest various crops including current Aman Paddy and Jute. This season's Robi crop could not be sown either. This time the farmers are also worried about planting Boro paddy.
Thousands of Bighas of their land are under water due to fish farming dams on the canals. The farmers complained that even informing the local administration repetedly did not work.
The livelihood of about 3,000 farmers in the area revolves around the land of Maula Beel in Naoda Khemirdiar area of Bheramara upazila.
Despite it is a Beel farmers make a living by cultivating the vast land around the Maula Beel all year round. After monsoon, the water of Maula Beel flows out through Bilshuka canal and Hisna river. Due to this the farmers did not have to face any problem in cultivating the land around the Beel.
However, the influential people of the area started fish farming building dams in Bilshuka canal and Hisna river so, this time the water of Maula Beel did not cleared out.
As a result, various crops including Aman paddy of the farmer have been drowned. Farmers are also worried about planting paddy in the upcoming Boro season.
The number of these dams on the border of Bheramara upazila is less, most of them are in neighboring Mirpur upazila, the farmers said. The farmers complained that no action was taken by the administration and the people's representatives in this regard even after repeated complaints on their behalf.
Farmer Golam Mostafa cultivated 13 Bighas of land in the Beel. He said he has been cultivating Aman paddy, jute, sugarcane, wheat, Khesari and Boro paddy in these lands every year for many years. However, this time his Aman paddy and jute have drowned due to water blockage in the Beel. There is still water in the ground. So this time he could not sow Robi crops either. “I don't know if I will be able to plant Boro paddy again”, he added.
Vadu Biswas, a farmer in the area, complained, “I have gone to the local UP chairman, agriculture officer and UNO. But no one is listening to us. Aman paddy and rabi crops have already been destroyed. If I can't cultivate Boro paddy, I have to go without eating with my family”.
Bheramara Upazila Agriculture Officer Shaikhul Islam acknowledged the plight of farmers, saying several dams had been removed earlier. But again fish farmers have built many dams. He said efforts were being made to address the issue by contacting the authorities.
Meanwhile, the farmers applied to the Deputy Commissioner for drainage of the Beel but did not get any result.
However, Deputy Commissioner Aslam Hossain said he had instructed the concerned upazila administration to remove the obstruction in the drainage of the Beel.
