A severe agricultural crisis has gripped the Chalakura village panchayat in Dhubri district, as over 1,000 bighas of once-fertile farmland have turned barren due to extensive sand siltation.
The local farming community, heavily reliant on agriculture for their livelihood, now faces an uncertain future as their primary source of income has disappeared.
Previously, Chalakura Char was a flourishing hub of agriculture, supporting diverse crops such as paddy, jute, onions, and vegetables. The fertile lands ensured food security and economic stability for the region.
However, this year’s devastating floods have transformed the landscape. Thick layers of sand have been deposited across the fields, rendering them uncultivable.
“The land that once yielded gold is now barren. We are unable to grow anything,” lamented Kader Ali, a farmer from the area.
The situation has severely impacted over 200 farming families in Chalakura Part-IV. Many farmers, unable to sustain their livelihoods, have been forced to migrate to neighbouring areas, such as Jhagrapar, Alamganj, and Panbari, in search of daily wage labour to support their families.
Despite the scale of the disaster, the local agriculture department has failed to assess the damage or offer assistance, leaving the farmers feeling neglected.
“The government talks about advancements in the agricultural sector, but the reality is that the number of active farmers in Assam is declining. Chalakura Char is a glaring example of the urgent need for intervention,” said Abul Kashem, a young resident of the area.
The farming community has now appealed to the Assam government for immediate financial relief and has called for the state agriculture department to take swift action to restore the land’s fertility and prevent further displacement of families dependent on agriculture.
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