Mainul Abedin Khan, Barguna District Representative:
Due to the heavy rains, the crop fields have been submerged in the low-lying areas of Barguna. The rainwater has accumulated in the fields of watermelon.
It is known that most of the fields in the district have been sold, but some areas including Khakbunita, Amtali, Chaumuhani, Nimtali Bali, of Sadar Upazila, are still in the field. These watermelons were supposed to be sold at a higher profit after a few days.
On Wednesday morning, the watermelon fields were seen in the rainwater caused by the impact of the cyclone in the Nimtali and Khakbunia area of Baliatali Union in Sadar Unit of Barguna Sadar Upazila and the fields were not drained.
Someone is again cutting the watermelon drowning in the water and taking the boat, including the field, the watermelon is drowned in the rain water. Farmers are afraid of loss of lakhs of rupees.
Jalil Mridha, a farmer in Khakbunita area, told Palli News, "I planted watermelons with a cost of Tk 2 lakh 28,000. The yield was fairly good. I will sell after 10-15 days, so I did not cut the fruit, but it is all over in the rain of the last two days. Now I doubt whether I will be able to sell this watermelon for 2 lakh taka.
Al Amin Hossain of Nimtali village said, "I have cultivated watermelon on 16 bigha land by spending 1 lakh 80 thousand taka. If the field is submerged in rain water, now it is not possible to sell even 10,000 taka. The agriculture office did not warn us about the sudden rain. If we warn us, the agriculture office did not have any damage.
Another farmer, Abul Kalam, said, "I used to cultivate watermelons with a cost of Tk 4 lakh. After a few days, I could sell them for 10 lakhs but before the sale, the watermelon field was submerged in the water before the sale."
Barguna Agriculture Extension Directorate Deputy Director Abu Syed Zobaidul Alam said, "Due to the impact of Cyclone Ashni, there will be no other crops that have been damaged in the rain. The list of farmers who have been affected will be made. Later, these farmers will be supported. We are not able to do many things on the field due to the manpower crisis.
