Farmers in Kaliganj upazila of Jhenaidah are fearing losses as heavy rain and strong winds have caused damage to ripe paddy over the past few days. Ripe paddy on the fields has been flattened by the storm, leaving the crop lying on the ground. Across many fields in the district, paddy stalks no longer stand upright, shattering farmers’ hopes.
Farmers said they were preparing to harvest paddy when the storm swept over the district, causing paddy to fall. This will push up labour costs for harvesting and threshing paddy. There is also a risk of fungus developing as the grains touch the wet soil.
Abu Sayed, a farmer from Babra village, said, “We were just a few days away from harvesting paddy, but the gusty winds have knocked paddy down. Now cutting and drying will be more difficult, and the yield will be lower.”
According to the local agriculture office, paddy has fallen in several areas of the upazila, and assessment of the damage has already begun. Compensation or support programmes for affected farmers are being considered.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mahbub Alam Roni said when paddy falls, moisture in the grains increases, reducing the quality and causing a 10–15% loss in yield. Farmers are advised to harvest and dry the damaged paddy quickly.
