Home ›› 29 May 2023 ›› Nation
A vast tract of Tangail is surrounded by the Jamuna and Dhaleshwari rivers. Once the rivers were mighty. At present, many sandy chars have emerged on the rivers. The chars remained fallow for many years. But now the chars give a spectacular look as different crops are seen from a far distance.
According to local sources, char lands of Dhaleshwari near Nirala Mor area of Tangail Sadar are currently full of Boro paddy while the main body of the river has narrowed down.
While the chars get submerged in monsoon as the water level rises, it remains dry most of the year. Due to the fertile silted soil, crops grow abundantly in the char areas.
Similar scene can be seen in the char of Jamuna River in the northwestern upazila of Nagarpur.
Paddy is cultivated in relatively low-lying areas. A majority of it has already been harvested as Boro season nears its end. Sesame, coriander, jute, sugarcane and dhaincha have been cultivated on the higher grounds. Grasses are grown as fodder in some areas intercropped with sesame.
Abu Bakar Siddique of the upazila said a few decades ago both Jamuna and Dhaleshwari rivers used to flow fully to the brim almost all year round. During the rainy season, the banks of the rivers would overflow.
“Gradually, the rivers lost their navigability as silt collected and shoals rose. The main body of the river also changed its course. Especially in the last five or six years, vast chars have become permanent fixtures in the area,” he said, adding that residents decided to make use of the land and grow various types of crops.
Iman Ali, a farmer of Karimganj village on the banks of Dhaleshwari River, said, “Even five years ago the river flowed freely near the Golchattar area. Now other than monsoon, there is hardly any water current there.”
“The soil is suitable to grow various crops such as rye, mustard, wheat, sesame and linseed. We hardly need any irrigation due to soil fertility,” said farmer Ayyub Ali of Parabholi village
According to Agriculturist Farhad Ahmed, during floods, various plants that get washed away by the river water get decompose and produce organic manure. These organic fertilisers accumulate with silt and increase nutrients and soil fertility.
Tangail Department of Agricultural Extension Deputy Director Ahsanul Basar said most of the charlands in the district are in Sadar, Bhuapur, Kalihati, Nargpur and Basail upazilas.
“Due to post-flood sedimentation, growing Rabi crops in these areas show positivity. Among these potential crops are maize, sesame, sugarcane and chilli. These crops are grown more in pastures.”
He also said that some crops are grown using traditional methods including sesame and millet. However, separate crop cultivation statistics are not done for char areas but it gets included with the statistics the concerned upazilas.
This year, 52,000 tonnes of maize have been cultivated in the district, including the char areas. About 4,000 tonnes of peanuts have been produced from 2,320 hectares of land.
The vegetables produced in shoal lands here are famous. Especially chilli grows well in the area. Sesame seeds also grows well in the area.
Vegetables have been cultivated on 10,755 hectares of land and chilli on 1,092 hectares of land while sesame seeds have been cultivated on 3,500 hectares of land.
