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A sudden storm lasting only a few minutes damaged banana and papaya crops on around 53 hectares of farmland in Madhupur upazila of Tangail on Wednesday.
The storm badly damaged several orchards in the hilly areas of Sholakuri, Fulbagchala, Arankhola, Bhutia and Kuragacha, with banana plants particularly affected after being uprooted or snapped by strong winds. Pineapple and vegetable gardens were also damaged.
According to an initial assessment by the Madhupur Upazila Agriculture Office, around 27 hectares of banana plantations and 26 hectares of papaya orchards were damaged in the affected areas. The extent of the losses could increase as officials continue assessing the damage to pineapple and vegetable farms.
Farmers said they had invested significant amounts of money, labour and time in their orchards and were nearing harvest when the storm struck.
Many had used their savings or borrowed money to finance banana, pineapple and papaya cultivation. The sudden damage has therefore left them facing serious financial uncertainty.
“We spent nearly half of our life savings on pineapple and banana farms. We had hoped a good harvest would help meet many of our family’s needs. But the sudden storm seemed to destroy everything within moments,” said Abu Sayem Hossain, a farmer from Harindhara village.
Another farmer, Shah Alam, said the loss of a banana plant represented more than just the value of the crop.
“It means the loss of a farmer’s labour, loans, investment, household expenses and future expectations. The extensive damage has put a huge financial burden on us,” he said.
Mamtaz Begum, upazila agriculture officer, told media that preliminary assessments showed extensive damage to around 27 hectares of banana plantations and 26 hectares of papaya orchards in the five affected areas.
“Field-level assessments are still underway to determine the full extent of the damage,” she said.
Farmers have called for a comprehensive assessment of the losses and immediate government assistance and agricultural advice to help them recover from the setback.