The water level of Jamuna River in Tangail has been rising for the past few weeks due to the excessive water coming down from the upstream. As a result, the farmers of Jamuna char areas in Bhuapur Upazila are worried about their crops. Many croplands of Jamuna char areas in Gabsara, Arjuna, Nikrail and Gobinadashi Union went under water. Meanwhile, the farmers are harvesting the immature sesame from the char areas as they went under water. Moreover, small jute plants went under water as well. Farmers expressed fear of huge loss this year due to this. On the other hand, the croplands in char areas are disappearing in the river because of river erosion as lifting sand from the river continues.Farmer of Kalipur village in Gabsara Union, Abdul Alim, said the water level in the river is increasing for several weeks. Water is entering into the low lying char areas. As a result, various crops including sesame and jute are going under water. He cultivated sesame in a few bighas of land this year. But he had to harvest them before they were fully matured due to the rising water level. So, he would face a loss cultivating sesame this season.
Mofazzal Hossain Sarkar, resident of Jagatpura Village of Arjuna area, on Sunday said water is entering in the char areas again. Although the water level has decreased a little today, the crops in the low lying lands have already gone under water. Among them, sesame and the small jute plants were damaged more. Many farmers are harvesting the immature sesame. If water level keeps rising like this, farmers will face loss in sesame and jute cultivation. He feared that other crops may also be damaged.
According to the sources from District Water Development Board, water level in Jamuna at the Porabari point of the district did not increase in the last two days.
As a result, the water level has decreased to 10-centimeter from the previous water level 10.78 centimeter.
The water in Jamuna is flowing 1.8 centimeter below the danger limit at present. Despite that, the sesame plants that went under water have already rotted. However, Department of Agricultural Extension of the Upazila is keeping contact with the farmers all the time.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Mokhlesur Rahman said sesame was cultivated in 1,610 hectares of land this year. Among them, sesame in 20 hectares of land has been damaged till now as they went under water during flood. Moreover, jute is cultivated in 2,830 hectares of land. Among them, jute of at least 32 hectares of land has been damaged. A list of the farmers who faced damage are being made.
