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The ongoing flash floods have affected 3,37,000 hectares of cropland across eight regions of the country including Chittagong, Cumilla, Sylhet and Mymensingh. According to government reports, the Chittagong and Cumilla regions are most impacted, with over 45 per cent of the Aman paddy fields underwater.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the main crops most affected are Bona Aman, Ropa Aman, and Aush paddy. Additionally, vegetable fields, fruit orchards and some spice fields, including ginger and betel nut, have suffered damage.
The ministry reports that eight regions, including Chittagong, Cumilla, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Khulna, Bogura, Rangamati, and some parts of Dhaka (such as Narsingdi and Manikganj), have a total of 14,92,000 hectares of cropland. Of this, approximately 23 per cent, or 3,37,000 hectares, have been affected by the ongoing floods.
However, the ministry has yet to determine the exact amount of crop damage. They have stated that the full extent of the loss will be apparent only after the waters have receded.
Agricultural Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has directed officials to determine the exact amount of damage in the agricultural sector and provide necessary cooperation and rehabilitation in the flood-affected areas.
The adviser said, “Our main priority is to ensure the production of Aman paddy as per the target in the flood-affected areas. If that is not possible, increase the production of useful crops including vegetables.”
He made this remark during a meeting with the department heads, and senior officials of the organisations under the ministry at the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka on Saturday.
He said, “Our aim is to increase agricultural production as much as possible. That is why all arable land should be brought under cultivation.”
He also instructed the relevant officials to ensure the supply of seeds, fertilisers, and other agricultural inputs, prepare seedbeds, and finalise preparations for rehabilitation.
"All arable land should be brought under cultivation, and we must ensure the supply of seeds, fertilisers, and other agricultural materials, create seedbeds and prepare for the upcoming planting season," he added.
During the meeting, Agriculture Secretary Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian announced that all Ministry of Agriculture employees will contribute an amount equivalent to one day's salary to the chief adviser’s relief fund.
Apart from that, ministry officials noted that the Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Feni, Noakhali, and Lakshmipur districts are among the most affected. A total of 1,82,000 hectares of cropland have been flooded in these districts of Chittagong Division out of a total of 3,92,000 hectares.
Most of these affected lands are used for Aman paddy cultivation, with some areas seeing up to 100 per cent of the paddy submerged and somewhere 40-45 per cent.
In Cumilla, Chandpur, and Brahmanbaria regions, 84,000 hectares of cropland were submerged out of a total of 1.68 lakh hectares.
In the Sylhet Division, including Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, and Sunamganj, a total of 54,000 hectares of land have been affected by flood water.
Other affected areas include Mymensingh (7,200 hectares), Rangamati (6,600 hectares), Khulna (1,200 hectares), and Dhaka division (1,018 hectares), according to the ministry.
Meanwhile, to monitor and collect data on the extent of crop damage in different areas, a control room has been set up in the Directorate of Agricultural Extension (DAE), according to the sources of the agricultural ministry. The information on affected cropland is updated daily from the control room.
According to the additional deputy director (control room) of the DAE, data on the affected lands are being collected from different districts via email or phone.
He noted that it is still too early to assess the full extent of the damage, which typically becomes clear 10-15 days after the initial flooding.
