About 2,000 families depending on Jhoom cultivation at Thanchhi in Bandarban have been in food crisis due to heavy rainfalls.
They fear the crisis may worsen during the rainy season.
The district administration said in a media conference on Thursday that steps have been taken to resolve the food crisis in the area near the border with Myanmar.
Locals of remote union councils Remakri and Tindu said the only means of living in the area is Jhoom cultivation.
Jhoom or slash-and-burn is an agricultural technique that involves the cutting and burning of plants in forests or woodlands to create fields.
Many in Remakri and Tindu could not cultivate crops last year due to heavy rainfall, locals said. Those who managed to plant could not harvest.
The people in these areas said they were spending their days eating wild potato, fruits and banana stems.
Local representatives fear the crisis will deepen if the government and non-government organisations do not provide help.
Yong Nong Karbari Parha, a one-and-half-an-hour walk from Barhamodak of Remakri, is an area with 17 Mro families.
Ruimon Mro, 80, said, “We are in deep misery. No rice. We collect and eat wild potatoes.”
“We will die if no-one helps us,” he added.
Adui Mro, 60, and Yung Oyai Mro, 56, said the cultivation last year was very poor.
Kra Hla Ong Marma, the chief of the 18 families living around Karbariparha, said all the people other than children went to cultivate crops. Only five of the families have rice to cook. The other families can eat rice only once every four to five days.
The families that have rice are also lending out the stock, he said.
Remakri Union Parishad Member Mang Chong Mro said the food crisis has reached its peak.
The crisis was worst in Patoa, Likri, Chnoyetong and Bulu Parha at the border.
Japarangparha with 55 Tripura families have solar power, but only 10 of them have stock of rice.
Biren Tripura and Diyambo Tripura said they have never seen such a food crisis before. Insects have affected the crops they managed to cultivate last year despite heavy rainfall.
The people of the area are living on Tk 300 per head given by Border Guard Bangladesh’s nearby camps in exchange for carrying their goods.
Remakri Union Chairman Mui Shai Thui Marma said there are 1320 families in the union. Of the 1,000 families depending on Jhoom, 900 are in food crisis.
He demanded a communication system for his area and employment opportunities for the people for a permanent solution instead of temporary food help.
Tindu Union Chairman Mong Pru Ong Marma fears people could die if any area gets disconnected due to heavy rainfall.
Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Dilip Kumar Banik said the high-ups in the government have been informed about the possibility of a food crisis pursuing until October.
He said 46 tonnes of rice have been distributed among the affected people.
Source: Bd news24
