Food crisis looms in Sylhet
4-point proposal by district administration includes immediate start of test relief and distribution of 2.62 lakh VGF cards
A possible food crisis looms in Sylhet as most of the areas in the district were affected by flood, leaving no scope for farmers to grow Amon paddy.
All the six upazilasBenibazar, Zakiganj, Goanghat, Kanaighat, Companyganj and Sylhet Sadarwere affected by flood, some of them and some thrice. Ninety-six unions out of 101 in the district were affected, officials said.
The worst affected areas are Benibazar, Zakiganj, Goainghat. Flood water is yet to recede completely from the areas.
The district administration has already sent a 4-point proposal to higher authorities to avoid a possible food crisis in the region in coming months, sources said.
These include immediate start of relief operation, test relief and food for works, distribution of 2.62 lakh VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding) cards and post flood rehabilitation.
The administration has also proposed all out assistance to farmers for winter cropping.
Talking to his correspondent Deputy Commissioner Harun Ur Rashid Khan said most areas the district suffered severe floods thrice this year that devastated crops and infrastructures.
Now there is virtually no scope for Aman cultivation and most of the lands will remain fallow till the winter.
He said test relief and food for work programmes should be started as soon as possible.
During a visit to affected areas in Beanibazar, Zakiganj, Goainghat many elders said they never experienced such a lengthy flooding in recent times. Farming in the region has been badly affected due to the prolonged floods, which had broken the backbone of farmers, they said.
This may result in a food crisis in the region during coming months, many people apprehend.
Farmers transplanted Amon seedlings twice on their lands, but those were damaged. Farmers said they do not have any scope to recoup the huge damage as the time for Amon cultivation is almost over. With recession of water, most of the croplands now look barren.
At the beginning of Aman season, seedbeds in most areas were damaged and many farmers did not get the scope for preparing seedbeds again, they said.
According to official estimate, newly transplanted Amon seedlings were destroyed completely on about 55,000 hectares and partially on about 40,000 hectares in the district.
A total of 3,12,000 farmer families have been badly affected in 96 unions.
The third flood this year damaged crops worth Tk 15 crore in the district. This was a heavy blow after the July-August flood that caused a loss of over Tk 10 crore, officials said.
Crops worth over a total of Tk 25 crore were damaged by floods this year. However, unofficial estimates put the damage worth over Tk 100 crore, sources said.
The floods also wrought havoc on infrastructures, damaging about 100 kilometres of pucca road, 283 kilometres of kutcha road and 27 kilometres of flood control embankment in the district.
Wazed Ali of Charkhai in Beanibazar said most lands in the village are barren as farmers did not have any Amon seedlings. Only a few villagers could sow seedlings they got as relief or assistance from different sources. There is no work in villages now, he said.
Most villagers are worried how to tide over coming months as the last IRRI-Boro crop was also damaged by drought, he added.
Rezu Miah of Moirchabari village in Golapganj said, “Our area normally remains flood free almost every year. But, this year we suffered greatly”.
He said farmers transplanted Amon seedlings twice but all are gone now. Such a thing never happened in last 20 years, he said.
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