In the diara regions under the Amdabad block of Katihar district, the prolonged impact of this year's floods has completely altered traditional farming practices. In the Gadai diara area, the floodwaters remained for an extended period, causing farmers to miss the optimal sowing time for their primary crop, 'kalai' (a traditional pulse). Instead of waiting idly, farmers have opted for sweet potato (mishrikand) cultivation as a viable alternative, bringing a ray of hope and relief to their faces.

Traditionally, kalai is extensively cultivated in the Gadai diara, located across the Ganga River in Chaukia Paharpur Panchayat, where it is known as the farmers' 'black gold' and forms their economic backbone. However, the delayed recession of floodwaters this year led to a postponement in kalai sowing. Fearing a significant drop in yield with late sowing, farmers prudently chose sweet potato cultivation to mitigate risks.

Currently, sweet potato crops have been planted across approximately 100 acres in the area. Experienced local farmers like Vijay Singh, Kunkun Chaudhary, Vinay Mandal, and Shiva Chaudhary, who previously cultivated sweet potatoes, noted that many other farmers have also adopted this crop this year to avoid heavy losses.

Farmers source high-quality seeds from Dholi, Pusa Road in Samastipur, and from Muzaffarpur and Vaishali districts, at around Rs 2,000 per kilogram. Approximately 20 kg of seeds are required per bigha (a local land measure). The total cost, including fertilizer, plowing, labor, and seeds, amounts to about Rs 35,000 per bigha. A bigha yields an average of 40 to 50 quintals of sweet potatoes. With a market price of approximately Rs 2,000 per quintal, farmers anticipate a net profit of Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per bigha after deducting costs. This alternative cultivation of sweet potatoes has not only provided economic support to the flood-affected diara farmers but also set an excellent example of agricultural diversification.