Unseasonal heavy rains and strong winds from Cyclone Mantha damaged crops on 32,450 hectares across 29 districts of Bangladesh, affecting 125,926 farmers. Many were forced to harvest early and then suffered pest outbreaks, leaving yields sharply reduced. Meteorologists say the rains persisted unusually into October–November; experts link such shifts to rising global temperatures and call for government aid and adaptive agricultural measures.
'It Came Out Of The Blue': Unseasonal Rains From Cyclone Mantha Devastate Bangladesh Crops — 125,926 Farmers Affected
Unseasonal heavy rains and strong winds associated with Cyclone Mantha have caused widespread crop damage across Bangladesh, threatening livelihoods and underscoring the growing impact of extreme weather on agriculture.
Extent of the Damage
According to data from the Department of Agricultural Extension, 125,926 farmers across 29 districts were affected and crops on 32,450 hectares were damaged. Losses include staples and cash crops such as rice (Aman paddy), potatoes, onions, chillies, maize, mustard, garlic, banana, papaya and black gram (mashkalai).
How Farmers Were Impacted
Many growers were forced to harvest early to salvage what they could after fields were submerged. Early harvesting reduced yields and, in many cases, fields were subsequently overrun by pests, compounding the losses.
“The rain came out of the blue, submerging my nearly one-hectare Aman paddy. The crop needed another 10–12 days to ripen. But I had to harvest early and ended up with less than half the usual yield,” Akbar Ali told The Daily Star.
Another farmer, Alamgir, said roughly 80% of his rice paddy has been lost. “Three months of labor have gone in vain. I don't know how I'll recover the financial losses or repay my debts,” he said.
Weather Patterns and Climate Context
Meteorologists told The Daily Star that rainfall in Bangladesh typically eases by September, but this year heavy rain persisted into October and November, triggering severe flooding and prolonged standing water. Experts link such shifts in seasonality and increased intensity of extreme events to global warming. According to NASA, greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane trap heat in the atmosphere, disrupting established weather patterns and increasing the frequency and severity of extreme events.
International examples illustrate the broader trend: this year’s hurricane season caused an estimated $580 million in losses to Georgia's pecan industry, and repeated floods and droughts in the United Kingdom over the past five years are linked to a wheat harvest shortfall of about 7 million metric tons.
Requests for Aid and the Road Ahead
Farmers and local officials are calling for government assistance to address immediate financial needs and recovery. Agricultural experts and institutions, including Columbia University, warn that such events may become a new normal, and they emphasize the need for adaptive farming practices, early-warning systems, climate-resilient crops and stronger support mechanisms for smallholder farmers.
What farmers want: quick financial relief, crop insurance or compensation, access to seeds and inputs for replanting, and technical guidance on adaptive practices to reduce future risk.
