Sylhet Bureau

The recent floods that have inundated Sylhet caused a massive loss of crops including Aus paddy, Aus seedbeds, vegetables, etc. in the region.

The calamity due to onrush of hill water from the Indian state of Meghalaya coupled with excessive rains has so far damaged agricultural crops worth around Tk6.13billion (Tk612.59 crore), said an official at the divisional office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Yet many croplands remained under water in all the four districts. The farmers in general are waiting eagerly to prepare the lands for Aus farming afresh, with total recession of water, the official said.

The number of affected farmers in the division is 213,007 while various crops on 308,18 hectares of land were damaged by floods.

The damaged crops in the region include Aus paddy on 1,8371 hectares of land; vegetables on 10,246 hectares of land, broadcast Aman paddy on 147 hectares of land and Aus seedbeds on 2,053 hectares of land.

Since there has been an inclement weather in the region amid rains and continued onrush of hill waters, troubles cannot be avoided further, DAE sources said. The calamity first hit the region, especially Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, on the night of May 27 and continued for several days.

Aus seedbeds in many areas, transplanted Aman paddy and vegetables were damaged or washed away.

Before the farmers got respite from the huge crop damage, the second round of flood hit the region on June 14 in a stronger way.

A DAE report prepared last week showed that the second round of the disaster damaged crops on 15,287 hectares land while total crop loss stood at about Tk6.13billion (Tk612.59 crore) in the four districts- Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj and in Habiganj.

The number of affected farmers has been calculated at 48,333, the report mentioned.

Meanwhile, the farmers have been asked to remain prepared for fresh farming just with full recession of water, DAE official sources said.

However, the government is contemplating crop-wise special assistance programmes for the affected farmers to cultivate Aus and other crops, the sources added.