Aman farming hampered on 6,631 acres of haor land

Around three thousand farmers could not cultivate aman on 6,631 acres of land in Kawadighi Haor of Rajnagar upazila under the district this season as stagnant water could not be released due to malfunction of old Kashimpur power pump house.

The affected farmers are now facing uncertainty about boro farming due to the situation.

According to Rajnagar Agricultural Extension office, Kawadighi wetland covering 6,916 acres of land sees aman cultivation every year.

But this year, aman was cultivated on only 285 acres of land as there is persistent water logging.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found vast areas submerged while different parts of the land remained covered with the water hyacinth.

The most affected area are Abdullahpur, Sadapur, Kubjhara, Kanikiari, Keola, Dhulijura, Rampur, Sunamapur, Munsibazar, Medenimahal, Jamura, Sonatiki, Miarkandi and Tarachang areaa under Rajnagor upazila.

"This year I could not cultivate aman on my four bighas of land as it remained flooded," said Abdus Salam of Keola village.

"After failing to cultivate aman paddy, we are now facing uncertainty about boro cultivation," said Sultan Ahmed of Sadapur village.

"The situation arose due to failure in water drainage work through Manu River pump project. The pumps set in the Kauadighi Haor are about 35 years old," said Nokul Das, chairman of Fatehpur union parishad.

Haor Rokkha Somonnoy Parishad and local farmers observed different programmes under the banner of "Save Haor, Save Farmers".

On August 7, farmers observed a mass rally and on September 5 they gave a memorandum to the prime minister through the Moulvibazar deputy commissioner.

Anisur Rahman, executive engineer (mechanical unit) of Water Development Board, said, "We will give a proposal to the higher authorities to set up a new pump house in Kauadighi Haor area to solve the waterlogging problem."