Food shortage in Sylhet villages
Administration suggests immediate start of Test Relief, Food for Work Programme
Rural people in Sylhet region are passing hard days due to food shortage caused by recurring floods and for lack of work. High prices of rice and other essentials have added to their sufferings.
Many people are coming to towns from rural areas for work. Delay in staring Test Relief and Food for Works Programme has made the situation worse this year.
While most areas of the country experienced floods twice this year, Sylhet region had it thrice, affecting 96 out of 101 unions.
Besides, about 50,000 stone quarry labourers are jobless for months, sources there said.
Talking tot his correspondent, some farmers in Beanibazar and Zakiganj upazilas said they never saw such prolonged flooding, which badly affected paddy fileds.
Faizur Rahman Khosru, president of Zakiganj Krishak Sangram Parishad, said, only 15 to 20 per cent of Aman paddy may be available this year. Harvest is at least four weeks away.
In fact the crisis will continue till the next IRRI-Boro crop, which will be delayed this year as flooding has delayed land preparation, he said.
Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Harun Ur Rashid Khan said, the region suffered flood thrice this year. Test relief and food for work programme should be started as soon as possible, he said.
Apprehending a probable food shortage in rural areas, the district administration earlier sent a 4-point suggestion to higher authorities.
After loss of Aus, farmers in many areas transplanted Aman seedlings twice but the prospect is very poor. In many other areas, lands are fallow.
According to official estimate, Amon on about 55,000 hectares were damaged completely and on about 40,000 hectares partially, affecting over 3,12,000 farmer families.
The crop loss was estimated at Tk 25 crore. Unofficial estimates however put the crop damage at over Tk 1000 crore.
The floods damaged about 100 kilometre pucca and 283 kilometre kutcha roads and 27 kilometre flood control embankments.
The four-point suggestion by Sylhet district administration includes expansion of relief activities, distribution of 2.62 lakh VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) cards and starting post flood rehabilitation work, test relief and food for work programme. The administration also stressed on providing all out assistance to farmers for winter cropping.
However an official said, the authorities gave only 57,000 VGF cards after the July floods. The sanction was given for September-December period in 57 unions out of 101 in Sylhet district. No card was given in any of the four pourashavas and Sylhet City Corporation.
The officials said the assistance programme should continue beyond December as the Aman harvest will be very poor this year.
In Sunamganj district, the demand for VGF cards was 1,34,000 but only 75,000 were given for 50 unions. None of the four pourashavas in Sunamganj district got any sanction.
Test Relief should be started in the areas immediately, the officials said.
There is no VGF programme in Habiganj district, where 8633 VGD (Vulnerable Group Development) card holders are getting 30 KG rice per month.
Food for work projects were prepared in July, but there has not been any sanction yet, an official said. Test relief programmes have been prepared but sanction is yet to reach, they said.
Wazid Ullah of Charkhai village in Beanibazar upazila in Sylhet said, most fields are almost barren while people do not have any work. We are passing hard days, which will continue till the next IRRI-Boro. Last year's Boro was destroyed by drought, he added.
Abdul Hasib alias Rezu Miah of Moirchabari village in Golapganj upazila said farmers will get only 20 per cent of the Amon paddy this year. He said he did not see such flooding in two decades.
Abdul Malik in Gowainghat upazila said over 30,000 stone quarry labourers are jobless for six months as stone collection is stopped.
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