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Aman uncertain in Sidr-hit Patuakhali, Barguna

Salinity increases in land as 900 km flood control embankment damaged

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali
With increased salinity on large areas of agricultural land in Sidr affected coastal districts l’atuakhali and Barguna, cultivation of Aman, the main crop of the area, has become uncertain.
During the high tide, salty water from the Bay and its adjoining rivers and canals easily enter agri cultural lands as about 900 km flood control embankment in the two districts was damaged during cyclone Sidr in October last year.
Aush cultivation has already been hampered due to seed crisis and salinity in land, said agriculture officials and experts.
Growing crops were badly damaged during the Sidr when vast areas in the coastal districts were flooded with 10-12 feet water from the Bay.
Of 1,209- kilometre flood control embankments in Patuakhaii district, 83-km was damaged totally and 562-km partially. Besides, 355 of the 412 sluice gates, 612 inlets,
362 irrigation schemes and 24 enclosures were damaged in seven upazilas of the district. Aman paddy on 1.70 lakh hectares of land was damaged, said sources at the district administration.
In Barguna, the Sidr washed away 250-km flood control embankment, sources at Barguna district relief and rehabilitation office said.
"After the Sidr, we conducted survey in many areas of the district to measure salinity on agricultural lands. Using EC Metre [a device for measurement of salinity] we found salinity above 2 points whereas up to 1.5-point salinity is considered acceptable for crops in the coastal areas. If salinity crosses 2 points, the land loses fertility and becomes unable to produce any crop," said Swadesh Samonta, assistant professor of agriculture faculty of Patuakhali Science andTechnology University.
The effect of salinity in the land may continue for three to five years, he said, adding, "Heavy rain
can reduce salinity by washing the land. Huge irrigation can also help to reduce the salinity. However, it is a gradual process."
He suggested local farmers to grow salinity tolerant varieties of crops like hybrid ones during the period.
Kalil Uddin, deputy director of Agriculture Extension Department, said cultivation is being hampered due to lack of flood control embankment in vast areas that are flooded by salty water from nearby rivers and canals.
Most of the local fanners failed to cultivate Aush as saline water easily enters the lands, he said, adding that agricultural lands in areas near the sea, rivers and canals may remain uncultivated this year.
“We cannot cultivate crops on our land after the cyclone as salty water with tidal surge easily enter our agriculture land following damage of flood control embankments and sluice gates,” Abdus Salam, a farmer of Aneepura village
under Kalapara upazila, said.
Abdul Mannan of the same village said the concerned authorities should immediately start reconstruction of damaged embankment to enable the farmers to cultivate crops.
"We submitted a Tk 10 crore emergency project proposal to the concerned ministry but the ministry allocated onlyTk 7 crore which is not sufficient to rebuild the damaged embankments this year." said Water Development Board Executive Engineer Jahir Uddin.
Shortly after the Sidr last year, Praful Chandra Patel, World Bank vice-president for South Asia, visited Kalapara village and assured that his organisation will provide all possible assistance for reconstruction of the damaged infrastructures including flood control embankments, sluice gates and cyclone shelters in the Sidr affected areas.
However, proper steps to rebuild the flood control embankments are yet to be taken.