Malda: Vegetable fields under water, horticulture dept to take stock of situation

Malda: With the rise of water in the Kalindi River along with other rivers, acres of land growing vegetables have been inundated resulting in a huge crop loss for the farmers in Manikchak block of Malda.

Cabbage, radish and bitter gourd are the main vegetable cultivation that was affected. Incessant heavy rains in the past few days aggravated the situation. The farmers are looking for compensation from the government. The district horticulture department has decided to take a stock of the situation and send reports to the higher authorities.

The Kalindri basin in Manikchak is a source of vegetables for the whole of the Malda district.

The silt of the rivers are particularly responsible for the fertile soil leading to the huge production of vegetables. Some of the farmers cultivate vegetables that are harvested early. The farmers were expecting to harvest before Durga Puja this year, resulting in good profit percentages.

The vegetables also include cauliflower and cabbage which are mainly brought to market from other districts during the off-season. However, the lands are now inundated and the chances of recovery are very less as vegetables rot easily in water-logged fields.

Samanta Layek, deputy director of the district horticulture department, said: “I am yet to receive anything in writing from the farmers but will send teams to take stock of the situation there. If the vegetables are damaged we will conduct a survey and send the reports to the concerned higher authorities.”