BANGLADESH

Farmers of Sripur in Magura district have alleged that Robi crops on at least 10,000 acres of land have been damaged following early release of water in the Ganges-Kapotakkho Irrigation Project's canal.

Although authorities had comforted them, it has taken no initiative yet to mitigate the disaster, the region's farmers have complained.

Affected farmers of Sripur upazila's Taarazail village say water in the irrigation canal has never been released during this time of the year, as they complain Robi crops of 30 villages in the region have been 'devastated' due to untimely release of water.

Deputy-assistant engineer of Khustia Water Development Board Subir Chowdhury says, "Water in the GK project is released on March 10 every year. But this year, water was released from Jan 20 considering preparations to make seed-beds for Boro crops."

Subir, however, says he is not aware of any devastation of Robi crops in Magura's Sripur upazila.

The GK Irrigation Project was conceived in 1954 to facilitate 1,350,000 hectors of arable land in 13 upazilas of Magura, Jhenaidah, Kushtia and Chuadanga districts during the dry season.

Farmers of Taarazail village say as water in the irrigation canal has suddenly been released, unwanted water inundated fields of 30 villages last week.

Baffled farmers say they went for Robi crop cultivation in the dry season instead of paddy or jute cultivation. They say they manage irrigation with 'shallow machines' for Robi crops.

Agriculture official of Sripur upazila Ruhul Kabir has told that an assessed 40 percent of the total Robi crop will be affected, which will be no less than Tk 150 million in financial estimates.

Kabir says on January 10 Sripur Upazlila Agriculture Office had informed the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Upazila chairman, district administration and Water Development Board for not releasing water in the canal.

According to the agriculture official, the current situation is the result of untimely release of water in the GK canal from Khustia's Bheramara.

The local upazila agriculture office has said lentil was cultivated in 1,530 acres of land, pulse in 660 acres, mustard in 810 acres, onion in 2,000 acres, garlic in 464 acres, wheat in 3,770 acres, crops in 840 acres, pea in 400 acres, linseed in 245 acres, coriander in 125 acres.

Farmers would have brought home the crops within a month, according to the agriculture office.

Deputy-assistant engineer of Magura Water Development Board Motiar Rahman has told : "Robi crops in some areas of Sripur have been damaged by the water released in advance. The GK project officials have been informed of the matter."

The official says steps will be taken to "resolve" the situation "as soon as possible".

Mentioning that this is the first time water has been released ahead of schedule, he says, farmers who intend to cultivate Boro in the upcoming season will need the water to prepare their seed-beds.