Floods ravage 15,911 hectares of cropland in Ctg, fisheries lose Tk91cr

Highlights

• Floods damaged 15,911 hectares of cropland in Chattogram
• Fisheries sector suffered estimated Tk91.42 crore losses
• Fish washed away from 9,933 ponds and farms
• Banshkhali recorded highest agricultural and fisheries damage
• Aush paddy, Aman seedbeds and vegetables were affected
• Final damage assessment awaits receding floodwaters and surveys

Torrential rain and flash floods triggered by hill runoff over the past week have damaged 15,911.16 hectares of cropland in Chattogram district and caused an estimated Tk91.42 crore in losses to the fisheries sector, according to preliminary government assessments.

Initial reports prepared by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and the District Fisheries Office show that fish, shrimp and fry were washed away from 9,933 ponds, lakes and fish farms across 153 unions.

The reports, released today (11 July), said field-level assessments are still underway. As floodwaters have yet to recede in many areas, the full extent of the damage remains unclear. A final estimate will be prepared after comprehensive surveys once the water subsides.

Banshkhali hardest hit

According to the District Fisheries Office, Banshkhali suffered the heaviest losses, with fish washed away from 2,500 ponds, 310 shrimp farms and nearly 1,970 hectares of water bodies, causing an estimated Tk41.5 crore in damage.

Satkania recorded the second-highest losses, with fish farming across 466 hectares of water bodies affected and losses estimated at Tk10.76 crore.

Lohagara suffered losses of about Tk8.48 crore from 1,620 ponds, followed by Karnaphuli with Tk6.08 crore from 557 ponds, Chandanaish with Tk5.94 crore from 383 ponds, Boalkhali with Tk4.51 crore from 756 ponds, and Patiya with Tk3.68 crore from 1,435 ponds.

The remaining losses were recorded in Fatikchhari, where 533 ponds sustained damage worth Tk2.7 crore; Hathazari, 170 ponds and Tk1.98 crore; Anwara, 1,100 ponds and 10 shrimp farms with losses of Tk1.5 crore; Sandwip, 412 ponds and Tk1.24 crore; Mirsarai, 97 ponds and Tk98 lakh; Rangunia, 270 ponds and Tk98.07 lakh; Raozan, 90 ponds and Tk93 lakh; and Sitakunda, where damage to 10 ponds was estimated at Tk15.14 lakh.

District Fisheries Officer Salma Begum told The Business Standard that the disaster had severely affected Chattogram's fisheries sector, particularly in the southern upazilas. She said floodwaters had yet to recede completely in many areas, meaning the final damage assessment could be significantly higher.

Crop losses spread across district

According to the DAE, 30,022.5 hectares of Aush paddy were cultivated this season, of which 9,043.5 hectares were damaged by excessive rainfall. Floods also damaged 960.66 hectares of Aman seedbeds out of 2,721.67 hectares, while 5,907 hectares of summer vegetables were affected out of 17,828.65 hectares under cultivation.

Together, damage to Aush paddy, Aman seedbeds and summer vegetables reached 15,911.16 hectares.

Banshkhali also recorded the highest agricultural losses, with 3,605 hectares affected, followed by Chandanaish (2,973 hectares), Fatikchhari (1,844), Satkania (1,741), Sandwip (1,650), Sitakunda (711), Patiya (512), Lohagara (510), Anwara (504), Mirsarai (488), Raozan (350), Rangunia (340), Karnaphuli (251), Boalkhali (173.5) and Hathazari (140).

Within Chattogram city, crops were damaged on 80 hectares in Panchlaish, 32.66 hectares in Patenga and six hectares in Double Mooring.

Mohammad Ali Jinnah, deputy director of the DAE's Chattogram region, told The Business Standard that damage assessments were still ongoing as waterlogging and disrupted communications continued to hamper field surveys.

"The figures released so far are preliminary. A comprehensive report will be prepared after all information has been collected," he said.

Officials said the initial assessment already indicates that the ongoing floods have dealt a major economic blow to Chattogram's agriculture and fisheries sectors, with crop losses and washed-away fish stocks likely to have a significant impact on the rural economy.