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More than 1.4 million farmers have been severely affected by recent flash floods in 23 districts across the country, including Feni, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali, and Cumilla. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the floods have caused crop damages worth Tk 3,346 crore.
The ministry released a final report on Friday, which detailed the impact of the floods until August 30 [Friday]. The report highlights that mid-August flash floods, triggered by heavy rains and landslides, affected 23 districts, including Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Chandpur, Cumilla, Sunamganj, Brahmanbaria, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Moulvibazar, Natore, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jashore, Narsingdi, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, and Khagrachhari.
Data from the ministry shows that 23 per cent of the total cropland [1.43 million] in the affected areas has been damaged. Of this, 43 per cent of the crops have been completely destroyed, while the rest have been partially damaged.
Most of the damaged crops include Aman paddy and paddy seedlings where 3,70,000 hectares of cropland in these districts were affected by the flash floods.
Between August 16 to 30, it was found that crops on 1,60,000 hectares, or 43 per cent of the affected land, were completely destroyed. The remaining 57 per cent of crops suffered partial damage of up to 23 per cent, the report said.
The ministry's data further reveals that in combined 2,00,000 hectares of cropland were damaged and affected in the areas, with a market value of Tk 3,346 crore.
The most affected crop is Aman paddy, which spans over 2,35,000 hectares. Other affected crops include vegetables such as tomatoes, papayas, betel nuts, green chillies, and various fruits like watermelons and bananas, as well as spices including ginger and turmeric.
Business experts are calling for urgent rehabilitation efforts for farmers and agricultural land in the flood-hit regions. They warn that immediate action is necessary to ensure food security, particularly to address the shortage of Aman rice, which could otherwise lead to instability in the rice market.
Ministry officials have stated that after assessing the flood damage, agricultural extension officers and assistant agricultural officers have been mobilised to begin rehabilitation activities in the affected areas.
A rehabilitation plan, focusing on block and upazila levels, is also being developed to support recovery efforts in the flood-hit districts.
