Venomous Russell's vipers (chandrabora) and various other snakes have been seen more often in the chars of the Padma river and other areas of Faridpur. At least six people have died from Russell's viper bites in the past six months, and more than 12 Russell's vipers have been beaten to death. This has raised fear and anxiety among char dwellers and led to a shortage of labourers. As a result farmers cannot bring home groundnuts and other crops, and cannot find workers even for extra pay.

On a visit, groundnuts were seen growing across the vast sandy chars that have risen in the Padma in North Channel union of Sadar upazila. The sandy soil of the chars in Faridpur Sadar, Charbhadrasan and Sadarpur is very well suited to groundnut. Recently, with Russell's vipers more common on the chars, many are too afraid to go to the fields and no labourers can be found to lift groundnuts. Landowners are therefore going into the fields themselves with their family members, risking their lives.

Most recently, on 21 June, Hossain Bepari (50), son of Porosh Ullah Bepari of the 38 Dag area in ward 2 of North Channel union in Faridpur Sadar upazila, died of a snakebite. His death, however, was due to his being taken to an ojha (faith healer) for ritual healing instead of to hospital in time.

Locals say Russell's vipers are often seen on the chars and in the surrounding areas. Frightened, many people are beating Russell's vipers and other species of snake to death, though some have also caught them alive.

Farmers say fear of the Russell's viper means they cannot harvest their char crops, and day labourers do not want to come to work for fear of snakes. Many have no choice but to try to harvest with their family members.

Palash Khan of North Channel told Jagonews24 that groundnut is the main crop of char dwellers, who depend on it for their living. It is now the groundnut harvesting season, but fear of snakes has grown and there is a shortage of labour. No one wants to work out of fear, so people have no option but to lift their groundnuts themselves, he said.

Abdus Salam Sheikh, a groundnut farmer in Decreerchar union, said Russell's vipers have become more common in the area in the past few months. Three people have died from snakebites in the past two months, so labourers cannot be found even for extra money. No one wants to go into the fields out of fear, so they have to harvest groundnuts with their own family members.

Nuru Khatun said day labourers cannot be found because of the fear of snakes. She asked many, but no one agreed, so she is harvesting groundnuts with her whole family. The groundnut yield has not been good this year, though, and she will avoid a loss only if she gets a slightly better price.

Md Rashed Sheikh, an entrepreneur in Decreerchar union, said villagers beat a Russell's viper to death about a week ago in the union's Goldangi area. Farmers saw the snake while harvesting groundnuts.

Decreerchar union parishad chairman Mehedi Hasan Mintu Fakir told Jagonews24 that at least five people have died from Russell's viper bites in his union alone, though it is not possible to give the names and details of all who died.

He said the heatwave meant groundnut and sesame yields were poor. At the same time, the rising Padma has flooded groundnut fields along the bank, so farmers are having to harvest in a hurry. Another problem is that labourers cannot be found because of the Russell's viper. With several people on the chars having died of snakebites, many are afraid to go to the fields, he said.

Md Mofazzel Hossain, chairman of the North Channel union parishad in Faridpur Sadar, said most of the union lies in the Padma chars. Villagers beat Russell's vipers to death on the chars almost every day. The river is rising and farmers are busy lifting groundnuts, but no day labourers can be found for the work, as no one is willing out of fear of the Russell's viper.

He said the Russell's viper has spread to every part of his union, and people walk about carrying sticks. The union parishad has already distributed 70 pairs of gumboots among farmers to help them work, and at a union parishad meeting everyone was advised to move about with caution because of the Russell's viper.

Golam Omar Faruk, chairman of the Aliabad union parishad in Faridpur Sadar, said Russell's vipers used to be seen on the far side of the Padma but are now being seen on the mainland too, which has caused panic among villagers. People have been advised to move about carefully. The snake is also being seen in other upazilas of the district, he said.

Faridpur divisional forest officer Golam Kuddus Bhuiyan said snakes are harmless creatures that especially prefer to stay out of sight and do not usually bite unless attacked. Snakes are immensely important in nature for protecting biodiversity, so people should not disturb snakes or try to catch them. Snakes should not be killed, and killing a snake is a legal offence, he said.

Faridpur civil surgeon Dr Siddiqur Rahman told Jagonews24 that venomous snakes, as well as Russell's vipers, are present in the chars of Faridpur Sadar, Bhanga, Charbhadrasan and Sadarpur upazilas. Everything is normal, however, and panic must not be spread needlessly. Enough antivenom has been stocked at the district town hospital and all upazila hospitals. Anyone bitten by a snake must be taken to hospital in time rather than to an ojha, he said.

Agriculturist Md Rafiqul Islam, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Faridpur, told Jagonews24 that groundnuts keep a good colour if lifted in sunshine. To protect themselves from Russell's vipers, farmers have been advised to burn mosquito coils, incense and smoke in the fields while working. When smoke gets into a snake's eyes it quickly moves away, and farmers who use this method will succeed, he said.

He said groundnuts have been grown on 4,572 hectares in the district this season, with a production target of 8,230 tonnes. Sesame has been grown on 6,110 hectares, with a target of 6,721 tonnes.

Faridpur deputy commissioner (DC) Md Kamrul Ahsan Talukder said the district administration is working to dispel the fear of snakes. Anyone bitten by any snake must be brought to hospital in time rather than taken to an ojha. There is nothing to panic about; rather than spreading rumours about snakes, everyone must stay aware and careful. The district administration will soon provide gumboots for the safety of char farmers, and announcements by loudspeaker have been arranged in various places to raise awareness, he said.

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