Govt announces emergency farm aid for flood-hit Chattogram

The government has launched an emergency recovery initiative for the agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sectors in five flood-hit districts of the Chattogram region, officials said at a press briefing today. The package includes 327 tonnes of paddy seed, vaccines for 151,599 livestock, and Tk35 lakh in cattle feed.

Minister of Fisheries and Livestock and Minister of Agriculture, Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid, announced the measures at a press briefing today at the Chattogram Circuit House.

The 17 July briefing focused on damage caused by recent flooding after heavy rainfall and outlined the government's post-flood recovery plan.

Citing preliminary field-level assessments, the Minister said fisheries suffered losses exceeding Tk200 crore across the five districts, while the livestock sector incurred losses of about Tk77 crore.

Relevant government agencies are still collecting information to determine the full extent of the damage, he said.

Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid said, "Extensive damage to seedbeds means 327 tonnes of paddy seed are required to rehabilitate affected farmers."

He added, "The government has adequate seed stocks and will immediately supply seeds to farmers whose land is ready for sowing."

Emergency seedbeds are being prepared on vacant government land for farmers whose fields are not yet ready. Seedlings from these beds will be distributed to affected farmers within 15 days.

Emphasising the need to safeguard livestock health, the Minister said, "The risk of foot-and-mouth disease rises after floods."

The government will vaccinate 151,599 livestock in the five affected districts, with the campaign starting on 18 July and expected to conclude within 15 days.

Mohammed Amin Ur Rashid said, "The floods destroyed straw and other animal feed, prompting the government to allocate Tk35 lakh in cattle feed as an initial measure."

The feed will be distributed on a priority basis in the worst-affected upazilas, with further assistance to follow as needed.

He said, "The government has collected union-level damage data and will prioritise areas suffering the greatest losses."

The Minister said, "The government is committed to ensuring that no affected farmer, fish farmer or livestock rearer is excluded from state assistance."

Divisional Commissioner Dr Md Ziauddin, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md Abdur Rahim, Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah, Director of the Department of Livestock Services Dr Md Bayzer Rahman, and Director of the Department of Fisheries in Chattogram Division Md Anwar Hossain attended the briefing.

Senior officials from the relevant departments were also present.