The government has estimated crop losses from flash floods at Tk 3.49 billion, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque has said.
"The floods have destroyed harvests of paddy, vegetables, jute and other crops. The government has taken measures such as creating alternative seedbeds, cultivating other crops on damaged lands and monitoring weather conditions to mitigate the damages,' the minister said during a programme on Monday, report UNB and bdnews24.com.
In the first phase, floods from June 25 to July 8, affected approximately 76,310 hectares of paddy fields in 14 districts where a total of 344,000 farmers were victimised, Razzaque said.
In the second phase, from July 11 to July 19, around 83,000 hectares of paddy fields in 26 districts, including the previous 14 districts, were damaged, he added.
The damage will be recovered and the target of Aman production will be possible to achieve if the flood condition does not worsen further, the minister said.
Ropa Aman saplings worth Tk 21.5 million were distributed among the farmers of severely affected districts free of cost, Razzaque said.
The ministry has also initiated a programme spending approximately Tk 7.0 million to plant saplings of Ropa Aman on floating beds.
Flood-hit and small farmers will also get free saplings of Aman to plant through rice trans-planter at a cost of Tk 5.4 million, the minister said.
“Around 50,000 farmers will be provided fertiliser and seeds of Maskolai worth Tk 38.2 million if they fail to produce Aman in flood-stricken areas,” he said.
The minister has urged all officials of the ministry to work with dedication as agriculture has been exposed to severe risks due to floods and Covid-19 pandemic.