150 farmers get gumboots from upazila admin to protect themselves from Russel's vipers
Moynul Haque Mridha, Rajbari
To protect farmers from Russel's viper bites, Goalando Upazila administration of Rajbari distributed gumboots to farmers on Wednesday noon.
On this occasion, these gumboots were distributed among 150 farmers of Ujanchar and Daulatdia unions at Char Daulatdia Government Primary School in the upazila.
Present at the time were Goalando UNO Md. Nahidur Rahman, Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Khokon Uzzaman, Upazila Jute Development Officer Md. Mizanur Rahman, Upazila Administrative Officer Md. Monir Uzzaman and others.
Farmer Hossain Ali, who came to get the gumboot, said, "I couldn't go to the fields for fear of snakes until now. Now that I have the gumboot, I can go to the fields with peace of mind, pick the crops and bring them home. Many crops have already been destroyed in the fields. Besides, the workers were also not going to the fields out of fear. Now everyone can bring their crops home."
Hamida Begum said, "We are people of the char area. We cannot leave our houses for fear of snakes. UNO sir has given us gumboots, now we can go to the fields wearing gumboots. There will be no problem in moving around. We can safely bring the crops home."
She further said, "My husband and children and I all work in the fields. We have had to risk our lives many times to go to the fields. We have not been able to pick up the rice from the fields yet due to fear of snakes. The rice is getting spoiled in the fields. I have got the gumboot, now there will be no problem going to the fields."
Another farmer, Shukur Mondal, said, "I cut some rice at the risk of my life and brought it home. Now that I have received the gumboot, I can go to the fields and harvest the crop. Agricultural workers also do not want to go to the fields. That is why we have to harvest the crop at our own risk. We are very happy to have received the gumboot."
UNO Md. Nahidur Rahman said, "Farmers were not able to go to the fields to harvest crops due to the fear of Russell's viper and they were terrified. As the media news came to our attention, we have been providing gumboots to protect farmers from snake bites. Gumboots were given to 150 farmers in the char area today. Gumboots will be distributed to farmers in each union in stages."
He further said, "In addition, various initiatives including miking will be taken to create awareness. He drew everyone's attention to the need to bring a farmer in the char area to the hospital immediately if he is bitten by a snake. The upazila administration is by the side of the farmers and will continue to be in the future."
