Staff Reporter:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has distributed agricultural inputs to the flash flood-affected households in Chattogram division.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Director General Badal Chandra Biswas, Joint Secretary (Extension Wing) of the Ministry of Agriculture ATM Saiful Islam and senior officials from the DAE and the ministry and local community leaders were present at the distribution ceremony held yesterday, a FAO press release said here yesterday.
In response to the devastating flash floods that swept through the Chattogram Division in August, the FAO has undertaken the distribution of agricultural inputs to the households affected by flash floods in Sadar Union of Bandarban district in collaboration with the DAE.
FAO is delivering rice and vegetable packages to 33,000 smallholder farmers across four districts Rang-amati, Bandarban, Cox’s Bazaar and Chattogram and 23 upazilas with generous financial assistance from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) and the Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation (SFERA).
Support included rice seeds, 12 kinds of vegetables seed, fertilisers, spade, water can and rice storage silo.
As the chief guest, Badal Chandra Biswas inaugurated the distribution of agricultural inputs in Bandar-ban Sadar and Patiya upazilas in Chattogram division.
He expressed his gratitude to FAO for quick response to support the flood affected smallholder farmers.
“In times of crisis, collaboration is the key. Yesterday’s distribution is a step towards restoring normalcy and ensuring the resilience of our agricultural community,” he said.
Nur Ahamed Khondaker, Assistant FAO Representative (Program) and Officer-in-Charge, FAO Bangla-desh, said: “FAO is dedicated to support the recovery of communities impacted by the flash floods…FAO remains committed to working hand-in-hand with local authorities to address the immedi-ate needs of the affected population.”
The distribution aims to restore livelihoods and ensure resilience in targeted areas, including Bandarban, Rangamati, Chattogram, and Cox’s Bazar districts .The event showcased solidarity between government, FAO and the farming community.
