Govt to vaccinate all livestock in five flood-hit districts within 15 days

The government has launched an emergency drive to vaccinate all livestock in five flood-affected districts of Chattogram division within 15 days and will supply paddy seeds and seedlings to enable farmers to resume cultivation, Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said today.

He made the announcement after inaugurating the distribution of paddy seeds, agricultural inputs, pond rehabilitation materials and livestock feed among flood-affected farmers, fish farmers and livestock owners in Dohazari, Chandanaish upazila.

Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Md Abdur Rahim, Director of the Department of Livestock Services, Dr Md Boyzar Rahman, and Director of the Department of Fisheries in Chattogram Division, Md Anwar Hossain, attended the programme alongside senior officials of the relevant departments.

The minister said the vaccination campaign would protect livestock from foot-and-mouth disease and other infectious diseases that frequently spread following floods.

"Special teams have been formed at the upazila and union levels. All livestock in the five flood-affected districts will be brought under the vaccination programme within 15 days," he said.

He added that the government would continue providing necessary assistance to help flood-affected farmers return to agricultural production as quickly as possible.

According to the minister, aman paddy seedbeds suffered the most extensive damage during the floods. Prolonged submersion rendered seedlings unusable in many areas, even though farmers had prepared the seedbeds before the floodwaters arrived.

Agricultural officers at the union and block levels have collected information from affected farmers, and replacement seeds are being supplied based on their needs.

Farmers whose seedbeds have been completely destroyed are receiving seeds immediately.

For farmers whose land remains submerged and cannot yet be replanted, the government has established alternative seedbeds on rented land.

Seedlings produced on these plots will be distributed within 15 to 20 days, enabling farmers to begin transplanting as soon as the floodwaters recede.

The minister said Tk35 lakh had been initially allocated to address livestock feed shortages caused by the floods, with further assistance to be provided if required.

Referring to the fisheries sector, Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said preliminary estimates indicated losses running into several hundred crore taka.

A field-level assessment is underway to determine the full extent of the damage. Rehabilitation measures will be implemented for affected fish farmers upon completion of the assessment, he added.

The minister also said the government planned to establish approximately 2,000 mini cold storage facilities across Bangladesh in phases.

The facilities will be established near production areas, enabling farmers to preserve their produce without incurring substantial transport costs and to sell when market prices are favourable.

To reduce future flooding and waterlogging, the government will continue reclaiming illegally occupied public canals and undertake necessary excavation work, he added.

Earlier, the minister visited flood-affected areas in Chattogram district.

He later sowed paddy seeds at a seedbed and inaugurated the distribution of seeds, pond rehabilitation materials and livestock feed, alongside vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease and peste des petits ruminants.