The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Jhenaidah have been removing the stagnant rainwater opening the closed gates of several irrigation canals of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB). It has been saving the croplands which went under water due to incessant rainfall between September 13 and 16.
Many farmers at Nagirat and Paikpara villages in Shailkupa upazila in Jhenaidah said the regulatory gate of the BWDB canal bridge in the villages were closed for a long time. As there was huge rainfall in last four days, the croplands went under water. The DAE authorities with the assistance of local upazila administration had opened the gates with cranes and opened a number of gates of the bridges. It helped remove the water from the nearest croplands.
Sasti Chandra Roy, Deputy Director of the DAE in Jhenaidah Khamarbari said about 2,500 hectares of land was inundated by rainwater in the last four days which created waterlogging in the district. The farmers were anxious when their crops on over thousand hectares of land was feared to be damaged by the rainwater. The DAE authorities with the help of local administration had arranged cranes and removed the rainwater opening the gates of the bridges.
The DAE deputy director also said standing transplanting Aman and vegetables on 2,500 hectares of land might be affected due to the rainfall. On the other hand, the incessant rainfall might help produce better crops as the rainwater contains nitrogen. Moreover, it does not contain any iron and arsenic. He urged the farmers to manage their croplands locally to remove the stagnant water at an early stage. For any necessity, he requested the farmers to contact the DAE officials in their areas. The officials were also advised to stand by the farmers, he said.
