Home ›› 30 Jul 2022 ›› Nation
Farmers of Netrokona have fallen into debt as the recent floods washed away the fish from the ponds and enclosures in the district.
According to the Department of Fisheries, Netrokona, fish from about 26,417 ponds, reservoirs and reservoirs were washed away in recent floods caused by increscent rain and onrush of hilly water.
Farmers of the district are worried about repaying their debt taken as loans from various banks and individuals for fish farming.
According to the district administration, recent floods have affected 75 unions of 10 upazilas of the district. Around 1.25 lakh people took shelter in 342 flood shelters during that time. The number of people affected by floods in the district is about 5,55,550.
According to the sources at the Department of Fisheries, fishes from 3,250 farms of 1,468 farmers in Netrokona Sadar, 2,040 farms of 1,723 farmers in Mohongonj, 3,687 farms of 1,722 farmers in Barhatta, 2,235 farms of 1,160 farmers in Kendua, 1,670 farms of 935 farmers in Atpara, 768 farms of 685 farmers in Purbadhala, 4,245 farms of 1,552 farmers in Madan, 414 farms of 391 farmers in Khaliajuri, 3,112 farms of 2,340 farmers in Kalmakanda, about 5,000 farms in Durgapur upazila washed away in
recent floods.
Sources also said 26,417 ponds on 3,538 hectares of land were affected due to floods and 15,826 fish farmers have incurred losses. The amount of losses has been estimated at around Tk 16,80,74,000.
Many farmed fish with loans from various banks. They hoped to repay the loans with the profits from selling the fish. Even though the flood water has receded recently, the fish farmers are struggling to cope with their losses.
Md Roknuzzaman Khan Khokon, the owner of Nipa Agro Fisheries in Madhupur village of Sahota Union of Barhatta upazila, said he cultivated various species of fish including Pabda, Tilapia, Shing, Rui, Katla in ponds on 3.5 bighas of land.
“The fish were almost ready to be sold. I expected to sell almost Tk 30 lakh worth of fish and fry this season and took a loan of Tk 12 lakh from Mercantile Bank for the farm,” he said.
All the fish have washed away in the flash floods and now he is unable to repay the loans. He cultivated bananas and vegetables around the pond which were also destroyed in the floods.
Fishermen Sadikur Rahman and Ratan cultivated Pabda, Gulsha, Tilapia, Shing, Rui, Katla and Silverfish in a total of 34 acres of ponds in Bausi, Asma and Sahota Unions. They said more than Tk 2 crore worth of fish have washed away in the flood from their farms.
“We have taken a loan of Tk 19 million from Islami Bank and Al-Arafa Bank for fish farming. We are now destitute and unable to pay back the loans,” they said.
Zamir Uddin, another fisherman of Bausi Union in Barhatta, said he invested a total of Tk 30 lakh in his farms with loans from various sources including Tk 11 lakh from Krishi Bank.
“I cultivated Tilapia, Pabda and Gulsha fish in five ponds. Now that the fish in my ponds have washed away before I could sell them, I have no way to repay my loans,” he said.
The fish farmers expect that the banks would take their situation into account and extend their loan repayment dates.
District Fisheries Officer Md Shahjahan Kabir said the extent of damage has been determined at about Tk 16 crore and the higher authorities have been informed on this matter.
