<i>Compelled to ravage ecology</i>
Collected snails being sold at Tikarampur in Kalaroa upazila in Satkhira. Photo: STAR
Hundreds of poor farmers including day labourers in Kobadak basin areas in two upazilas in Satkhira are compelled to ravage the ecology as farming is virtually stopped due to persistent water-logging on croplands. They earn their living by colleting snails, which maintain environmental balance. The croplands are submerged as flood water from the Kobadak river cannot be drained out because the river, canals in the area and adjoining lands are silted and clogged. Once flooded in the rainy season, the water remains stagnant till March-April, which does not allow rice cultivation during most of year. Most of the poor people and day labourers remain unemployed as over 9000 hectares of land covering 27 villages in the Kobadak basin areas in Kalaroa and Tala upazilas remain fallow, they said. Many varieties of vegetation and wildlife have become extinct as the situation remains the same since 1980s, they said. Snails are in good demand in shrimp and poultry farms because they are nutritious shrimp feed. One person can collect 35 to 40 kilograms of snail a day and sell those at Tk 200 per maund to traders. About 32 tonnes of snail are collected daily from the area, local people and traders said. Most of the poor people in Par Kumira, Raripara, Kashipur, Tikarampur, Putiakhali, Baokhola, and Islamkati villages in Tala and Khordo, Sharasjakti and Deara in Kalaroa upazila are engaged in the work.
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