Thousands of hectares (ha) of cropland were damaged in Moulvibazar and Cumilla districts due to flood this year, which caused a huge loss in the agriculture sector.
CUMILLA: An agricultural damage of Tk 848 crore has been estimated in the district.
This agricultural economic loss was confirmed by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE)-Cumilla on Thursday.
According to the DAE sources, in 14 upazilas of the total 17 ones of the district, cropland damages were reported to 63,794 ha of land including 4,515 ha of transplanted Aman (T-Aman) seedbeds.
Other crop damages included 23,309 ha of T-Aman, 2,019 ha vegetables, transplanted Aush 33,580 ha, seed Aman 335 ha, and sugarcane 216 ha of land.
Economic damages of T-Aman seedbed stands at Tk 223.41 crore, T-Aman Tk 269,98,43,000, vegetable Tk 49.65 crore, T-Aush Tk 297,85,72,000 crore, and sugarcane Tk 7.68 crore.
DAE's Deputy Director Ayub Mahmud said, necessary allocations will be provided for the damaged agricultural fields and for rehabilitation of the affected farmers.
KAMALGANJ, MOULVIBAZAR: The agriculture sector in all upazilas of the district including Kamalganj suffered huge damages due to flood.
Other damages included living houses, fisheries and village roads and culverts. But the highest damages were recorded with the agriculture.
According to sources at Kamalganj Upazila Agriculture Office, the flood damaged 100 ha of Aush paddy and 3,000 ha of Aman paddy and vegetables in the upazila, affecting about 6,500 farmers.
Highest agricultural damages were reported in Chhaiyakhali Haor area at Kamalganj Sadar Union and Kewlar Haor area at Patanusha Union. Water stranding was created in these areas as these are the lowest localities.
At present, as there are not Aman saplings, farmers are collecting Aman saplings from neighbouring upazilas at higher prices.
Farmers Masud Mia, Sams Mia and Abul Khair said, "After few days of sapling plantation, the flood appeared. So, planted saplings were damaged. Now there is not time for planting saplings again."
"If there is no government assistance, it will be difficult for us to turn around," he added.
Kamalganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Jayanta Kumar Ray said, victim farmers are listed; seeds of Aman-75 and BINA-17 will be given to farmers soon; saplings of these species can be planted in short time.
This will help the farmers overcome their damages a bit, the official added.
