The country's 64th district, Feni relies heavily on agriculture, with 70% of its economy centred around this sector. Known for its picturesque sites and renowned local delicacies, 80% of Feni's population is engaged in agricultural activities.
Approximately 75% of households derive their income from farming, making the district a significant contributor to the nation's annual food and crop production.
However, this year's repeated floods have wreaked havoc on Feni's agriculture.
Both Aman and Aush crops were severely damaged, with most of the harvest washed away by floodwaters.
Vast hectares of arable land are now covered in mud and silt, leading analysts to predict a severe impact on the district's agrarian economy.
In late July, floods inundated the entire district, with another deluge occurring on 22 August when upstream waters submerged Feni once again. The flood is gradually receding, revealing the submerged farmlands and the extensive damage inflicted.
According to the District Agriculture Department, 30,352 hectares of crops were destroyed in Feni’s six upazilas, resulting in losses amounting to Tk451.20 crore.
Over 200,000 farmers have been affected by this calamity.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) reported that 79.69% of the district's croplands were damaged.
This includes 26,000 hectares of Aman, 1,854 hectares of Aush, 1,865 hectares of Aman seedbeds, 69 hectares of orchards, 525 hectares of autumn vegetables, 7 hectares of ginger, 16 hectares of turmeric, and 16 hectares of sugarcane.
In the previous flood of July, the upazilas of Fulgazi, Parshuram, and Chhagalnaiya witnessed significant damage to Aush crops, summer vegetables, Aman seedbeds, and summer chillies.
Before farmers could recover, the recent floods have obliterated everything. The agriculture department reported losses of Tk1.17 crore, affecting 1,719 farmers across three upazilas.
Farmers in the district have faced multiple floods within just a month and a half, with the most recent one destroying 80% of their crops.
Having invested all their resources at the start of the season, the farmers now lack the means to prepare land or plant new crops, exacerbating the district's economic crisis.
As a result, they are demanding government intervention to prevent further deterioration of the agricultural sector and the district's economy.
Wahidul Haque, a farmer from Jagatpur village in Fulgazi, described his plight: "I had leased three kani of land and spent Tk20,000 just two days before the flood to plant rice seedlings. But the floodwaters washed away everything. I've lost both my home and my crops, leaving me destitute."
Similarly, Ali Ahmed, a farmer from Parshuram, recounted, "The first flood of the year destroyed my Aman seedbeds. After replanting, another flood came and washed away everything. Now, after a third flood within a month and a half, my fields are nothing but mounds of sand. I have no money left to prepare the land, and all the rice I had stored for next year has been ruined. I don’t know how we’ll survive."
Mosharruf Hossain, a farmer from Chhagalnaiya, lamented, "Just two days before the flood, I finished planting rice in all my fields. Now, all that's left is heaps of sand. Not only have I lost my crops, but even the rice I had stored at home has been soaked and ruined. There’s no way to start over, and a food shortage in the district seems inevitable."
He added, "We are helpless now. If the government does not stand by us, we are headed for a bleak future."
Feni Agriculture Extension Department Deputy Director Md Ekram Uddin acknowledged the extensive damage, saying, "This flood has caused enormous losses in agriculture. Despite our office being submerged, our officials are working to assess the damage and provide advice to the farmers. We have already sent a list of the losses to the relevant departments. Discussions are ongoing regarding the distribution of Aman seedlings to farmers, and we are advising them to cultivate early varieties of some crops to recover from this crisis."
