Staff Correspondent

Agriculture Adviser Lt. Gen. Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) today said the country will not face any crisis of fertilizer as it has sufficient stock of fertilizer till December and the growers will be able to buy and use fertilizer as per demand.

He said this while addressing as the chief guest a review meeting on the flood situation in different districts of the country, the steps taken to rehabilitate flood affected people and progress of implementation of the measures, said a press release.

Activities of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) were also discussed in the meeting.

Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, other senior officials of the ministry and heads of different offices and agencies were present.

The Agriculture Adviser said process of fertilizer import remains normal. He urged all concerned not to purchase or stockpile additional fertilizers for fear of future crisis.

Jahangir Alam also directed all concerned to quickly complete the rehabilitation programme of the flood affected farmers with transparency.

The release said crops were damaged in 23 districts of the country due to flash floods that started from August 16. A total of 3,72,733 hectares of land was flooded in these districts while 2, 08,573 hectares of croplands were damaged. Some 7,14,514 metric tons of crops were damaged worth around TK 3,346 crore. A total of 14, 14,089 farmers were affected while 14.58 percent of the total cultivated crops in the 23 flood-affected districts were damaged.

Among the worst affected seven districts, 35,673 hectares (80%) of land was damaged in Feni, 38,456 hectares (37%) in Noakhali, 49,608 hectares (36%) in Cumilla, 15,626 hectares (33%) in Lakshmipur, 23,992 hectares (16%) in Chattogram, 15,222 hectares (12%) in Moulvibazar and 8,326 hectares (35%) in Brahmanbaria.

In the flood, 1,41,609 hectares of Ropa Aman padday, 38,689 hectares of Aush paddy, 764 hectares of Bona Aman paddy, 14,908 hectares of Ropa Aman seedbeds and 11,290 hectares of vegetables were damaged in the districts.

Besides, crops like ginger, turmeric, sugarcane, betel leaf, chilli, watermelon, papaya, summer onion, and tomato and fruit orchards have been damaged in the flood.

To deal with floods, assessment of crop damage, distribution of Aman paddy seeds and preparation of seedbeds for planting in post-flood conditions in affected areas, data collection through control rooms, providing of assistance in agricultural rehabilitation and overall activities are being coordinated and monitored through committees.

Under the rehabilitation programme, TK 13.66 crore incentive was immediately provided among the small and marginal farmers affected by floods in nine districts (Cumilla, Chandpur, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Cox's Bazar, Lakshmipur and Khagrachhari) for the cultivation of Ropa Aman.

Through this, 400 metric tons of Aman paddy seeds were distributed at farmer level. Each beneficiary farmer family is getting 10 kg DAP Fertilizer, 10 kg MOP Fertilizer and TK 1000 Cash (Mobile/Online Banking). As a result, 10,667 hectares of land will come under cultivation of Ropa Aman and the number of beneficiary farmers is 80,000.