Farmers in Sreenagar are struggling to harvest ripe paddy due to severe labor shortages and waterlogging caused by recent storms and tidal surges.
Over the past few days, Kalbaishakhi storms, heavy rain, and tidal water from nearby canals have inundated large areas of cropland in different parts of the upazila, including the vast Arial Beel region, raising fears of extensive crop damage. While farmers are already facing an acute shortage of agricultural labourers, many paddy fields have gone underwater, making harvesting even more difficult. Farmers fear that additional rainfall and tidal surges could worsen the situation further.
Local residents said labourers are now demanding Tk 1,400 to Tk 1,500 per day along with three meals, yet sufficient workers are still unavailable.
On-the-spot visits revealed that paddy harvesting has started in various fields across all 14 unions of the upazila, including Arial Beel. In many low-lying areas, partially submerged paddy has begun rotting in water, while laborers are seen harvesting crops standing knee-deep in water. Because large areas of paddy land in Arial Beel remain submerged, combine harvesters and other modern harvesting machines cannot be used, forcing farmers to depend entirely on manual labour.
According to the local agriculture office, paddy has been cultivated on around 10,055 hectares of land in Srinagar Upazila this season. Of this, nearly 4,500 hectares are located in the Arial Beel area. Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Main Uddin Saad said fewer labourers from other districts have arrived this year compared to previous seasons, contributing to the current labor crisis.
He said nearly 2,000 hectares of paddy had been harvested in Arial Beel as of Saturday. However, due to flooded fields, operating modern harvesting machines has become nearly impossible.
District-level officials have already visited the affected areas, and preparations are underway to compile lists of affected farmers. Authorities are advising farmers to harvest ripe paddy as quickly as possible to minimise losses.
Local farmer Md Ibrahim said, "We are paying Tk 1,500 per worker along with three meals a day, but even then one laborer cannot harvest more than seven decimals of land in a day. After all expenses, there will hardly be any profit."
Another farmer, Md Faruk Hossain, said he cultivated BR-29 variety paddy, but storms and rain left the fields submerged.
"We are harvesting half-submerged paddy while standing knee-deep in water. Even after offering high wages, we are not getting enough workers," he added.
Md Delowar Hossain said nearly 75 percent of the land in the beel area has gone underwater, forcing farmers to spend heavily on harvesting.
Locals said wet paddy is currently being sold for Tk 700 to Tk 900 per maund depending on quality.
Several laborers from Sunamganj said they had travelled to Sreenagar for harvesting work and are being paid Tk 1,500 daily along with meals and transportation support.
