The river is low and the dry season has set in, yet the Jhenai has begun eating into its bank at Helenchabari village in Kamrabad union of Sarishabari upazila, Jamalpur. Residents say 20-25 bighas of farmland have gone into the river in a few days since the erosion began suddenly on Saturday, Barta24 reports.
The land was under maize, potato, chilli, onion and other crops, and farmers lost the land along with the crops. If the erosion continues, more fields and homes could go; an embankment road and a school are also at risk. Erosion was still going on when the reporter visited on Wednesday.
Farmers Zahurul Islam, Iman Ali and Mofazzal Hossain of Helenchabari said they had planted with loans and borrowed money, and their land vanished into the river before the harvest.
Residents Zakir Hossain and Shuvo Mia said erosion like this in the dry season was unusual to them. They want geo-bags dumped to protect the bank, or a permanent embankment, before the damage grows.
Upazila agriculture officer Anup Singha said staff had been sent to the site and a list of affected farmers is being drawn up; they will get priority if government incentive funds are allocated. Upazila nirbahi officer Afroza Afsana visited the area and promised steps to stop the erosion and help for the families affected.
At the start of the rabi season, losing land means losing not one crop but future harvests too. In the same district, Tuesday night's hail in Madarganj also damaged aman, maize and chilli.
Source: Barta24
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