Staff Reporter:
Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid has announced a series of emergency measures to facil-itate farmers’ recovery from flood-related losses, including the establishment of special seedbeds, distri-bution of paddy seedlings, supply of dry cattle feed, and a vaccination campaign against foot-and-mouth disease.
The minister made the announcement at a press conference held at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room in the capital on Tuesday.
He said Aman paddy seedbeds have suffered the worst damage in the ongoing floods, with newly sprout-ed seedlings in many areas submerged and destroyed, making the provision of fresh seedlings a top gov-ernment priority.
The minister said officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) at union and block levels are collecting field-level information around the clock.
A dedicated control room has also been opened at the ministry to monitor the situation, while he is per-sonally overseeing updates on the extent of the damage.
He said emergency seedbeds would be established on land owned by the Bangladesh Agricultural Devel-opment Corporation (BADC), the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and the agriculture de-partment in flood-affected areas.
The paddy seedlings produced there will be distributed to affected farmers according to their needs as soon as floodwaters recede, he said.
The minister said farmers who had already transplanted paddy have not only lost their crops but also the fertilisers applied to their fields, as floodwaters washed them away.
“As a result, they will require additional assistance to resume cultivation,” he added.
He went on saying that assistant agricultural officers at the block level have detailed records of farmers’ land, and those records will be used to identify eligible beneficiaries and distribute support.
Addressing the livestock situation, the minister said fodder shortages have emerged after floods de-stroyed straw and grazing land.
The government will therefore supply dry cattle feed, straw and bran to the affected areas without delay, he also said.
He also said the risk of foot-and-mouth disease increases during the monsoon season.
Accordingly, instructions have been issued to launch a large-scale vaccination campaign for livestock in flood-hit areas within the next one to two days, he further stated.
Highlighting losses in the fisheries sector, the minister said many fish escaped after floodwaters breached pond embankments.
A list of affected fish farmers is being prepared, and the government will provide them with necessary assistance, he said.
The minister said the government’s objective is to quickly rehabilitate flood-affected farmers, livestock owners and fish farmers, restore normal agricultural production and ensure the country’s food security.
