The forecast of flash floods in Netrokona has caused intense anxiety and panic among farmers in the haor area. Fearing loss of crops due to heavy rains in Cherrapunji, India and the rising water levels in the upstream hills, local farmers are trying to harvest semi-ripened paddy and bring it home. They have started harvesting paddy quickly with uncertainty despite the diesel and labor shortage. Weather and current situation: Although there was light sunshine in the district on Sunday (April 26) morning, the sky was cloudy. The Netrokona Water Development Board (PWDB) said that despite light rain in the last two days, there is a strong possibility of heavy rain from April 28. This may cause the water of the main rivers including Someshwari, Kangs, Dhanu and Uddhakhali to cross the danger level and enter the haor. PWDB Executive Engineer Md. Sakhawat Hossain said that if 80 percent of the paddy in the field is ripe, it is now very risky to leave it. Field level picture: Local farmers said that due to low rainfall at the beginning of the season and delayed planting, almost half of the paddy in the haor is still raw or semi-ripe. Khaliajuri farmers Shamsul Haque and Hashem Ali said that paddy in low-lying areas is being destroyed due to waterlogging. On top of this, labor shortage and diesel shortage have further complicated the situation. In many areas, it is not possible to use combine harvesters due to waterlogging. Fear of damage and government preparedness: Farmers depend on boro crops on about 42,000 hectares of land in the haor areas of Khaliajuri, Mohanganj, Madan and Kalmakanda of the district for their livelihood, education and medical treatment throughout the year. The market value of this crop is about Tk 7 billion. Although a 138-kilometer temporary submerged embankment was built this year at a cost of Tk 310 million to protect the crop, the locals are worried about how much it will survive the flood. Khaliajuri Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Delwar Hossain said that paddy has been cultivated on 20,232 hectares of land in the upazila. Farmers are being advised to harvest paddy quickly.

​Administration steps: Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nadir Hossain Shamim said that water has started accumulating in the paddy fields in the low-lying areas due to the increase in water in the Dhanu River. Farmers are being warned through microphones and supervision has been strengthened to keep the diesel supply normal. ​According to the weather forecast, there is a possibility of very heavy rain from April 28 to 30, which is feared to cause major disaster for the Boro crops in the haor.