The country's Aus paddy production will not be disrupted due to the worsening flood situation in different districts. Some lowlands may be affected by the flood, but it will not have any effect on national production.
Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak said, "Aus paddy cultivation won't face any setback due to the flood. This year, a record amount of land has bought under Aus paddy production. Some amount of paddy may be damaged in low lying areas but national production will achieve its target".
According to Agriculture Ministry information, the concerned ministries and officials are working to increase food production in the country, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed to cultivate crops in every inch of land. The timely decision-making and implementation of the decision by the ministry have made it possible to collect more Boro paddy than the target even during the coronavirus disaster. Now the field level officers and employees are working to increase the production of Aus and Aman paddy.
In the meantime, a sufficient quantity of Aus paddy seeds, Aman paddy seeds, fertilizer, irrigation and other incentives have already been distributed among the farmers, Agriculture Ministry sources said.
While the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agricultural Extension are hoping for additional Aus production. Floods have submerged the Aus paddy fields of many farmers across the country. Many farmers cannot afford to take even a handful of paddy at home. Because their paddy was destroyed by the floodwaters.
According to different districts' flood situation information, 5,853 hectares of agricultural lands have been damaged in the floods in Kurigram, 196 hectares in Gaibandha, 1509 hectares of agricultural lands submerged in floodwater in Shirajganj, and 351 hectares in Jamalpur including Aus and Aman paddy land.
The agriculture minister said, "Aus has been captivated in 1329,600 hectares across the country in the fiscal year 2020-2021, which is more than the estimated target (100.52 percent). Even the cultivation land is two lakh hectares more than the previous year. So we are optimistic that, the target production of 3544,800 tonnes would be achieved."
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in a recent study titled “Rapid Assessment of Food and Nutrition Security in the Context of Covid-19 in Bangladesh” said that Bangladesh would have surplus food during and post-Covid-19 situation. While many countries are being fearful of famine, Bangladesh will be surplus in granular grains production.