Abu Rasel Sumon, Khagrachhari

The extensive damage to cultivated land caused by the continuous rains in Khagrachari has also affected 7,344 farmers in five upazilas.

The most affected are the seedbeds of Aman, Aush paddy and summer vegetables. There is also extensive damage to fisheries and livestock. The amount of damage in the three sectors is over 122 million taka, according to the district administration.

The amount of damage in the recent district is crop loss: cropland is 8,355 hectares,
cultivated 8,130 hectares. 1,031 hectares were affected by the flood. According to the information of the District Department of Agricultural Extension, the crops of 233 hectares of land have been completely destroyed and the crops of more than 193 hectares of land have been partially destroyed.

Director of the Agriculture Department Nasir Uddin Chowdhury said, we have finalized the list of affected farmers. Government incentive assistance will be provided to the affected farmers in due course.

Meanwhile, fisheries in the district have been affected as 405 ponds of 345 fish farmers in 9 upazilas have been washed away, causing a loss of about 2.5 crore taka to fish resources, said District Fisheries Officer Raju Ahmed.

On the other hand, according to the information of the Khagrachari District Animal Resources Department, 3 cows and 3 goats have died in the flood in the district. 11 poultry and 12 dairy farms have been damaged. In addition, about 100 tons of dry straw and 50 acres of grass land have also been damaged.

Although the flood water has started to recede, signs of damage to cropland are becoming visible. Farmers are struggling to provide additional funds to clean the rotten mud and create new seedbeds. The government is in the process of providing free seeds and incentives to help the affected farmers.