Continuous rain has created a cruel contrast in Bogura. On one side, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, pumpkin, jute and Aman seedbeds are rotting under water; on the other, falling production is pushing vegetable prices sharply higher in the markets. The same disaster has put both farmers and consumers in a double crisis: farmers are at a loss after losing their crops, while ordinary people are struggling to buy everyday vegetables at high prices.

The agriculture department says the continuous rain this July has put 417 hectares of cropland in Bogura under water, directly affecting 4,961 farmers. Vegetables, jute and Aman seedbeds have been hit hardest. The weather office forecasts more heavy rain in the coming days, raising fears that the situation will worsen.

These figures come from the preliminary damage report of the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), prepared up to 15 July. Agriculture officials say losses will grow if the rain does not stop now, and market instability could last longer.

According to the Bogura weather office, 309 millimetres of rain was recorded in the district from 1 to 14 July, including 109.8mm on 9 July alone and 108mm on 13-14 July. The office has warned of heavy rain again from 17 July, so neither farmers nor traders can shake off their worries.

The government report shows Sariakandi upazila was hit hardest, with 188 hectares of cropland under water. In Kahalu 75 hectares, Dupchanchia 55, Adamdighi 45, Sonatala 38, Shibganj 17 and Shajahanpur 14 hectares were submerged.

By crop, the biggest blow has fallen on next season's production: 126 hectares of Aman seedbeds, 115 hectares of jute, 106 hectares of vegetables, 34 hectares of Aus, 23 hectares of chilli and 13 hectares of other crops were damaged. People in the sector say the effect will not be limited to this season but may show in production and markets in the coming months.

Vegetable growers are in the most fragile position. This season vegetables were grown on 6,751 hectares in the district, of which 106 hectares are already under water, affecting 1,377 vegetable growers.

By upazila, Kahalu had the most vegetable land flooded at 45 hectares, followed by Sariakandi with 28 hectares, Sonatala 13, Shibganj 10, and Adamdighi and Shajahanpur 5 hectares each.

Beyond the area of land, farmers' hardship is now the bigger reality. In Sariakandi alone 750 farmers have suffered losses; in Kahalu 491, Dupchanchia 470, Adamdighi 385, Sonatala 324, Shibganj 100 and Shajahanpur 91 farmers have lost crops.

Many farmers said they had borrowed to buy seed, fertiliser and pesticide in the hope of a good harvest this year, but water in the fields is destroying everything before the crops can reach market, leaving them uncertain about repaying their loans.

Amirul Hossain, a bitter gourd grower from Shakharia Dakshinpara village in Bogura Sadar upazila, said: "I spent about Tk 15,000 on bitter gourd. The rain came before I could start selling, and within a few days the whole field was under water. Now all the plants have rotted. I could not bring home a single taka."

Mahfuz, a farmer from the same village, had grown bottle gourd and pumpkin on 14 decimals of land. "The rain has broken the trellises. The gourds and pumpkins are rotting. There is nothing left to take to market," he said.

Shamsur Rahman, a taro grower from the Kalibala area, said: "I made a profit growing taro last year, so I grew it again this time. But the continuous rain has caused a loss of about Tk 30,000. What is left in the field is also going to waste. I don't know what I will do next."

All the farmers claim the preliminary damage list often does not show the full picture, because water is still standing on much of the land and the true extent of the losses cannot be determined until it recedes.

The losses in the fields have directly affected Bogura's vegetable markets. Lower production, farmers being unable to harvest and disrupted supplies from different areas have pushed most vegetable prices abnormally high in just a week. Farmers are losing their crops, while ordinary buyers are struggling to afford vegetables even at higher prices.

At Rajabazar and Fateh Ali Bazar in Bogura town, green chillies that sold for Tk 60 a kg a few days ago now sell for Tk 120. Aubergine has risen from Tk 60-80 to Tk 80-100 a kg, depending on quality.

Ridge gourd and yardlong beans have jumped the most: both sold for Tk 30 a kg last week and now fetch Tk 70. Okra is up Tk 20 to Tk 40, taro stolons (kochur loti) have risen from Tk 50 to Tk 70, and pointed gourd from Tk 20 to Tk 30. A bottle gourd now costs Tk 50 each, up from Tk 30. Cucumber sells for Tk 80-120 a kg depending on quality, up to Tk 40 more than a week ago.

Some other essentials have also risen. Pakri potatoes are up from Tk 25 to Tk 40 a kg, ginger from Tk 100 to Tk 160, and lemons from Tk 10 to Tk 16 per four (hali). Garlic is unchanged at Tk 120 a kg and carrots at Tk 160. The only relief is tomatoes, which have fallen from Tk 300 a kg last week to Tk 160.

Traders say the main reason is a supply shortage. With water standing on fields in many areas, farmers cannot harvest vegetables, and transport disruption means not enough produce reaches the wholesale markets even from areas where crops remain.

Shamim Hossain, a vegetable seller at Rajabazar, said: "Vegetables are not coming from the wholesale markets as before. Farmers cannot get into their fields and many vegetables have been ruined by water. With less produce arriving we have to buy at higher prices, so we have to sell at higher prices."

Karim Hossain, a trader at Fateh Ali Bazar, said traders' profits had not risen with prices. "Instead there are fewer buyers. Many buy half the vegetables they need and leave. With sales down, it has become hard even to cover shop costs."

School teacher Nazmul Hossain, out shopping, said: "Every day I come to the market and face new prices. The money that used to buy three or four kinds of vegetables now doesn't buy even two. Managing household expenses has become difficult."

Lelin Hossain, a leader of the Fateh Ali Bazar Multipurpose Cooperative Society, said crop losses from the continuous rain had cut supply, which is why most vegetable prices have risen by Tk 20 to 40 a kg, and more in some cases. Fish and chicken prices remain stable, he said.

The agriculture department says the situation is not yet completely out of control, but the weather over the next few days will determine the final extent of the damage. Sohel Md Shamsuddin Firoz, deputy director of the district DAE, said vegetables had been grown on 6,751 hectares in the district, of which 106 hectares have already been damaged. If the rain stops now, many fields can be brought back into production, but if heavy rain returns the losses will grow and the negative effect on the market could last longer.

According to agricultural economist Azahar Ali, farmers and consumers pay the highest price for natural disasters. Farmers lose production and money, and the pressure of falling supply ends up in consumers' pockets. Bogura's current situation reflects that reality, he said, and unless quick steps are taken to drain water, rehabilitate affected farmers and normalise market supply, the suffering could grow.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.