As flood water spread across the neighbouring areas in other districts, more than 50 lakh hectares of crops were submerged across the country.
The ongoing floods have affected 22,000 hectares of Aus paddy in Sunamganj and Sylhet. Now the flood has spread to other districts including Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Moulvibazar. It has so far affected about 56,000 hectares of land in the country. Besides, crops like vegetables, sesame, nuts etc. have been damaged.
Agriculture Minister Md. Abdur Razzque said this while exchanging views with journalists after a meeting with Maldives High Commissioner Shirujimath Samir at his Secretariat Office in the capital on Tuesday.
Stating that various programs are being taken to ensure that the production of Aman paddy is not affected, the minister said, “Aman is a big crop in the country, where about 10.5 million tonnes of rice is produced annually. Now the work of making seedbed of Ropa Aman has started. If the flood does not increase, the seedbed will not be so damaged. However, if the flood is prolonged, the seedbed will be damaged.”
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed to make maximum arrangements for the construction of Aman seedbed. Seedlings that have been sown will be replanted if damaged. We have enough seeds stored, they will be given to the farmers. On the other hand, if the floods are prolonged, initiatives will be taken to cultivate Nabi variety (Late Variety) paddy,” added the minister.
He said, “We are preparing considering all the circumstances. If Aman is damaged due to floods or cannot be cultivated, then crop production should be increased during Rabi season. Therefore, the farmers will be provided various materials including seeds, irrigation, fertilizer free of cost.”
The minister said the ongoing floods could affect the prices of vegetables. He said it was not yet clear whether there would be a food crisis in the country due to the floods.
During the meeting, Maldives High Commissioner Shiruzimath Samir expressed interest in importing mangoes from Bangladesh. Besides, the Maldives will co-operate in the extraction of huge marine resources of Bangladesh, said the Agriculture Minister.