Dhaka, August 23 — The Ministry of Agriculture has canceled all leave for officers and employees across its departments, organizations, and institutions in flood-affected districts to ensure immediate and effective assistance to farmers. An official directive was issued by the ministry on Thursday, emphasizing the need for all available personnel to support the agricultural sector during this critical time.

The directive, issued by Agriculture Secretary Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, highlights the urgent need for agricultural officers to be present in flood-affected areas to assist farmers whose crops have been damaged by the recent floods caused by heavy rainfall and seasonal low pressure from the Bay of Bengal.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the flash floods have significantly impacted cropland across 12 districts:  

  • Munshiganj: 230.7 hectares   
  • Sylhet: 3,389 hectares  
  • Moulvibazar: 43,271 hectares   
  • Habiganj: 6,894 hectares  
  • Chittagong: 12,089 hectares  
  • Cox's Bazar: 4,289 hectares   
  • Noakhali: 36,745 hectares  
  • Feni: 31,545 hectares 
  • Lakshmipur: 9,478 hectares
  • Comilla: 65,135 hectares  
  • Brahmanbaria: 6,414 hectares 
  • Chandpur: 10,922 hectares  

The total crop losses across these districts include: 

  • Aush rice: 68,209 hectares  
  • Aman rice: 138,619 hectares 
  • Bona Aman rice: 570 hectares  
  • Ropa Aman seedbeds: 12,910 hectares 
  • Vegetables: 9,519 hectares  
  • Sugarcane: 384 hectares 
  • Betel nut: 191 hectares  

In response to the flooding, the Department of Agricultural Extension has recommended several measures for farmers to mitigate crop loss and prepare for future planting. These measures include:  

  •  Establishing emergency seedlings of flood-tolerant varieties in high areas.  
  •  Creating floating seedbeds and planting short-term rice seedlings (BRIDHAN-56, 57, 75, 87).  
  •  Planting flood-tolerant rice varieties (BRIDHAN-51, 52, 79).  
  •  Growing vegetables on floating beds.  
  •  Planting vines and spices like pepper and ginger in sacks.  
  •  Increasing the cultivation of seedlings using double transplanting methods and direct sowing of germinated rice seeds.  

Farmers are encouraged to contact their local Upazila Agriculture Officer for any agricultural advice or assistance. The ministry's swift actions aim to reduce the impact of floods on agriculture and ensure that farmers receive the necessary support during this challenging period.