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1,600 shrimps and fish from farm-ponds in the coastal district of Bagerhat were washed away by heavy rains and tidal water under the influence of
Cyclone Sitrang. Among these, there are more than a thousand shrimp farms. And
some shrimp farms in two Upazilas of Satkhira were submerged in water, but
there was no major damage.
According to the District Fisheries Department, there are
77,500 shrimp and fish farms in Bagerhat. In the farms here, shrimp and carp
fish are mixed. Under the influence of Sitrang, incessant rains and tidal water
have submerged farms in several areas including district headquarters,
Morelganj, Rampal, and Mongla. Shrimps and fish worth about Tk 2 crore have been
washed away.
Md. Kabir Hossain, a farmer in the Kashimpur area of Bagerhat
Sadar, said that on Monday (October 24, 2022), it rained with gusty winds till
around 9 pm. He commented that if it rained for an hour, all the farms would
have been submerged.
However, the shrimps of two farms next to Kabir Hossain were
washed away by rain and tidewater. Saifuddin and Shariful Islam, the owners of
the submerged farm, said that due to salinity, other crops are not grown in
this field. Shrimp farming is their only source of income. They were in great
danger as the farm was washed away.
Fakir Mohitul Islam, President of the Bagerhat District shrimp Growers Association, said that this year, the shrimp were plagued at the beginning of the season. Last September, eight thousand farms were washed away in Bagerhat due to low pressure in the sea, abnormal tidal water, and continuous rain. Shrimp farmers were again affected due to Sitrang. He demanded the introduction of fisheries insurance to sustain the shrimp farmers.
District Fisheries Officer ASM Russell said that 1 thousand
28 shrimp farms and 580 ponds of fish in the district were washed away due to
the impact of the cyclone. According to the advice of the fisheries department,
the netting on the banks of the perimeter and because the water level is not
high, the amount of damage is less than other times, said the fisheries
officer.
On the other hand, Cyclone Sitrang damaged some shrimp farms
in Shyamnagar and Ashashuni coastal Upazilas of Satkhira. Due to advance
preparations, there was no major loss, said the district fisheries officer and
shrimp farm owners.
According to the District Fisheries Department, there are
67,800 Galda and Bagda farms in Satkhira on 86,000 hectares of land. Among
these, there are 18 thousand shrimp farms on 27 thousand hectares of land in
coastal Shyamnagar Upazila and 11 and a half thousand shrimp farms on 17
thousand hectares of land in Asashuni.
Abul Kamal, general secretary of the Satkhira Shrimp Farm
Owners Association, said that preparations were made in advance so that the
prawn farm does not get washed away during Sitrang. A few farms in Shyamnagar
and Asashuni were inundated due to heavy rains on Sunday and Monday. But there
was no major damage.
Satkhira District Fisheries Officer Anichur Rahman said that
there was a lack of necessary water in the shrimp farms due to the lack of rain
in the district for a long time. This rain has been a blessing for them. In
response to another question, he said, they do not have any news of the shrimp
farm being washed away or submerged in Satkhira.
Source:
Online/SZK
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