Kurigram, Oct. 21 -- Hundreds of farmers in Roumari upazila of Kurigram are facing despair as the Brahmaputra River has swallowed their cropland just as paddy plants began producing panicles, forcing many to settle for half-ripe crops in a desperate attempt to salvage something from their losses, or minimise them.

In some fields, paddy plants have only begun to develop panicles, while in others the half-ripe grains have started turning golden. With only a few days left before harvest, farmers in the Sukhervati and Madhyapara areas of Char Shoulmari union have watched their expected harvest disappear into the river.

With no way to protect their land, impoverished farmers are cutting down half-ripe paddy plants, hoping to use them as catt...