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Govt stands beside flood-hit farmers


Published : 26 Jul 2019 09:47 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 08:50 PM

The ongoing grisly flood caused by the upstream water flow and continuous heavy downpour for about a week have damaged around 160,599 hectares of croplands in the country’s 31 districts. Considering the situation, the government has stood beside the affected farmers so that they can minimize their losses. 

Following a government decision, the central bank has already disbursed all scheduled banks to distribute fresh loans among farmers in the flood-stricken areas besides stopping collection of installment of previous year’s loans. 

The decision was taken so that the farmers in the flood affected areas could recover their losses and start  cultivating again, according to a Bangladesh Bank circular issued to all the banks of the country on Wednesday.

Besides, the government has a plan to distribute free seeds and fertilizer among the flood-hit farmers after the flood ends so that they could recover the losses. 

Along with this, an amount of Tk 120 crore will also be allocated to face the disaster, sources said.  

However, most of the flood-hit farmers said they now need huge incentives to recover the losses as they did not get the fare price in the last Boro harvesting season. 

According to the statistics of agriculture ministry, 160,599 hectares of arable lands out of 10,70,559 hectares in 31 north-east and central districts have been damaged by this year’s flood. 

As per the statistics of the ministry, the Aus paddy has been damaged most, as 45,681 hectares of cultivated lands were now under the flood water, following by Bona Aman paddy and jute.

Around 41,656 hectares of land cultivating Aman have been damaged by flood water, the statistics says. Besides, 39,423 hectare of jute cultivated lands have beendamaged by flood water, the statistics says.

Besides, 39,423 hectare of jute cultivated lands have been seriously damaged with flood in many districts, 21 percent of total jute cultivation this year. 

Apart from this, 14 percent of the total vegetables cultivating lands have also been hugely affected, leading the small farmers on the verge of ruin. 

Experts said if the flood lengthens, the Aus and Aman paddy would deadly be damaged.  Besides, it has also spoiled huge vegetable crops, raising the price hike of these daily necessaries in all kitchen markets. 

Though the jute harvesting season is on the end, the long-time flood might severely damage jute croppers, they said. 

According to region-based statistics, the districts under Rangpur division, including Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Kurigram, and Nilphamari are on top, damaged by the grisly flood this year. Around 34,278 hectares of cropland were heavily damaged with flood water in these districts.

The Bogura region (Bogura, Sirajganj, and Pabna) was the next affected, as a total of 32,137 hectare of lands here have been damaged with heavy water. 

After that, around 30,084 hectares of lands in Mymensingh division, and 30,039 hectare in the districts adjacent to Dhaka (Tangail, Manikganj) have been damaged with excessive water.  

Apart from this, 16,352 hectare of cultivated lands in Chatttogram division, 7,272 hectare in Sylhet division, 4,725 hectare in Faridpur region, 3,409 hectare in Rajshahi division have also been damaged with the flood.

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque in recent times said that the government were now staying beside the affected farmers so that they could recover their losses.

“The government will distribute free seeds and fertilizer among the flood-hit farmers and Tk 120 crore will be allocated to defend this disaster,” he said.   “The government is ready to give them all supports if the flood situation worsens more,” he said adding that there is no shortage of financing and preparation in the government to face this disaster.  According to sources, the agriculture ministry will also train up the farmers so that they could gain the knowledge of flood crops management in flood situation.