No harvest, no eid: Habiganj farmers stare at debt

Floodwaters have swallowed vast stretches of ripe boro paddy across the haor areas of Ajmiriganj upazila in Habiganj. Thousands of farming families who depend on a single annual harvest can't bask in the Eid festivities this year.

Continuous rainfall and flow of upstream runoff submerged croplands before farmers could harvest the crops. “Everything was ready for harvest. I thought I would repay my loans, buy Eid clothes for my children and celebrate properly,” said 60-year-old Abdul Jolil, of Dakshinpara village.

He had cultivated six bighas on lease, spending Tk 50,000 per bigha. “But now the entire paddy is gone. I don’t know how I will feed my family on Eid day.”

His voice broke as he added, “My children kept asking me when I would buy their Eid clothes. I kept telling them -- after the harvest. Now there is no harvest, and I have no answer for them.”

According to the Ajmiriganj Agriculture Office, boro was cultivated on 14,560 hectares this season, of which 1,480 hectares are now submerged. The estimated damage stands at Tk 35–40 crore.

Farmers are wading into chest‑deep water to salvage partially ripe paddy, but much of it has already rotted, unfit even as cattle feed. A heavy stench of decay hangs in the air.

Usman Mia of Sadar union, who cultivated 150 bighas, said he managed to harvest crops of 20 bighas before the rush of floodwaters.

“Every year on Eid morning, I slaughter a cow and feed the whole neighbourhood. This year I can't even think about it. The water took everything...For the first time in twenty years, I feel ashamed in front of my family.”

“We cannot even collect straw properly this season. It will be difficult to feed cattle during the monsoon. I have no time to think about Eid,” said Lutfar Rahman of Kakailcheo union.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Ruhul Amin said 57 percent of the harvest has been completed across the upazila. He added that 477 farmers were selected through lottery to sell paddy to government warehouses at fixed prices. Ajmiriganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Rezaul Karim said the administration has compiled a list of affected farmers who will receive assistance once allocations are confirmed.