Flood-hit farmers in 5 districts to get paddy seeds; all livestock to be vaccinated within 15 days: Minister
Farmers whose seedbeds have been completely destroyed are being prioritised for immediate assistance, says Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid.
Highlights:
- Minister says flood-hit farmers in 5 districts will receive paddy seeds and seedlings
- Government aims to vaccinate all livestock in affected areas within 15 days
- Alternative seedbeds prepared for farmers whose fields remain submerged
- Preliminary estimates suggest fisheries suffered losses worth hundreds of crores
- Government plans to establish 2,000 mini cold storages to support farmers
Farmers in five flood-affected districts of Chattogram division will receive paddy seeds and seedlings to help them resume cultivation, while all livestock in the region will be brought under a vaccination programme within the next 15 days, Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid has said.
Speaking after inaugurating the distribution of paddy seeds and farming inputs among flood-affected farmers, fish farmers and livestock owners, as well as the livestock vaccination campaign, in Dohazari of Chandanaish upazila today (17 July), he said the ongoing floods have caused the greatest damage to aman paddy seedbeds in the Chattogram region.
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Prolonged inundation has rendered many seedlings unusable, added Aminur, who is also the fisheries and livestock minister.
To address the situation, agricultural officers at union and block levels have been collecting data on affected farmers, he said, adding that arrangements have been made to provide replacement seeds.
Farmers whose seedbeds have been completely destroyed are being prioritised for immediate assistance, the minister told journalists.
He said the government has also established alternative seedbeds on rented farmland for farmers whose fields remain underwater and cannot yet be replanted.
The seedlings grown there will be distributed among affected farmers within 15 to 20 days so they can begin transplanting as soon as floodwaters recede, he added.
On livestock health, Aminur warned that the risk of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and other infectious diseases rises sharply after floods.
A mass vaccination campaign has therefore been launched in five affected districts, with special teams deployed at upazila and union levels, he stated.
The government aims to vaccinate all livestock within 15 days, the minister said.
He added that an initial Tk35 lakh has been allocated to address livestock feed shortages, with additional funds to be provided if necessary.
Referring to the fisheries sector, Aminur said preliminary estimates suggest losses running into hundreds of crores of taka.
A field-level assessment is underway, after which rehabilitation measures will be taken for affected fish farmers, he mentioned.
The minister said the government plans to establish around 2,000 mini cold storage facilities across the country to help farmers preserve their produce near production areas and sell it when market prices are favourable.
He added that the government will continue efforts to recover illegally occupied public canals and carry out dredging work to reduce future flooding and waterlogging.
Earlier in the day, the minister visited several flood-hit areas in Chattogram.
He later sowed paddy seeds at a seedbed, formally launched the distribution of seeds to farmers, pond rehabilitation materials to fish farmers, livestock feed to farm owners and vaccines against FMD and PPR (Peste des Petits Ruminants - also known as sheep and goat plague).
