Heavy rainfall over the past three days, triggered by a late monsoon, has taken a toll on agriculture in India and Bangladesh, exacerbating existing concerns over soaring vegetable prices. Farmers who planted early winter crops, including potatoes, onions and green chillis, say they face significant losses due to the rains.
Regions in Bangladesh such as Rajshahi, Pabna, Kushtia, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj and Lalmanirhat witnessed heavy rain, resulting in waterlogging and river erosions. Also, a combination of rain and strong winds has inflicted severe damage upon vegetable, chilli and potato fields in Dinajpur, Rangpur, Pabna, Kushtia, Dhaka and Faridpur regions.
Thefinancialexpress.com.bd reports that, in early October, the monsoons gradually recede, ushering in the arrival of winter winds. But an unusual pattern emerged this year as the country has been experiencing heavy rainfall for the past three days. Some areas were witnessing rains for around a week.
Heavy rain causes heavy losses for Mandi district fruit growers
The monsoon has also caused huge losses to the horticulture sector and fruit growers of Mandi district, in Himachal Pradesh. The Horticulture Department has revealed that the rains have caused damage to fruit crops on 4,169 hectares in Mandi district, directly affecting 14,794 fruit growers.
According to Sanjay Kumar Gupta, Deputy Director, Horticulture Department, the fruit growers of Mandi district grow apple, stone fruit, pear, mango, apricot, citrus, orange, litchi and guava. Damage to the apple crop was reported on 3,080 hectares, followed by stone fruit on 462 hectares, mango on 431 hectares, citrus on 71 hectares, pear on 30 hectares, litchi on 46 hectares, apricot on 28 hectares, guava on 13 hectares and orange crop on 7 hectares in the district.
Source: tribuneindia.com