Recent flood and heavy rains have devastated five districts in the Chattogram Agricultural Zone, resulting in a financial loss of Tk 1,651 crore. According to the Chattogram’s Department Agriculture Extension (DAE) final loss report, the disaster affected 1,93,045 hectares of cropland across Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Feni, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur, with 70,137 hectares of crops completely destroyed.
The report attributes the damage to floods caused by excessive rainfall, hill slope erosion, and upstream water entering through a breach in the Muhuri River, affecting nearly 7.75 lakh farming families. Crops in production in 1,22,908 hectares have been either partially or half damaged.
From the affected cropland, 12,741 hectares are of Aman seedbed, some 1,30,544 hectares are plantated Aman crop, 3,945 hectares are autumn vegetables, 11,739 hectares are fruit orchards, 62 hectares are ginger, 156 hectares are turmeric, 420 hectares are betel and 314 hectares are sugarcane.
The financial account of the affected cropland states that the loss amount of Aman seedbed is Tk 88.34 crore, Aman plantation is Tk 961.77 crore, planted Aman is Tk 82.53 lakh, Aush plantation is Tk 123.23 crore, Autumn vegetables is Tk 394.34 crore, Betel leaf is Tk 30.8 crore, fruit orchard is TK 25.57 crore, ginger is Tk 8.31 crore, Turmeric is Tk 7.22 crore and sugarcane is Tk 11.52 crore.
Meanwhile district-wise statistics point out that in Chattogram district alone, 58,492 hectares of cropland damaged where 1,61,067 farming families incurred financial losses worth Tk 391.86 crore.
In Cox’s Bazar, 19,296 farming families faced losses on 13,162 hectares of cropland, amounting to Tk 47 crore. In Noakhali, 1,25,192 families lost 43,601 hectares, leading to financial losses of Tk 466.27 crore. Lakshmipur saw 2,33,096 families losing 39,717 hectares, with estimated financial losses of Tk 292.68 crore. In Feni, nearly 100 per cent of cropland was damaged, affecting 1,68,560 farming families and resulting in a financial loss of a staggering Tk 451.20 crore.
In this regard, Chattogram DAE Additional Director Md Nasir Uddin said, “The floods that occurred from August 16 to August 26 caused unprecedented damage, the worst in recent memory. I have submitted the final report to the ministry, detailing a loss of Tk 1,651.30 crore.
“Now the ministry will decide how to rehabilitate or compensate the affected farmers. Moreover, we are giving various suggestions to the field-level officials on sustaining the agricultural production after the flood water recedes. Further decisions will be made based on the situation after the water recedes.”
