ZCZC
BSS-16
CROP-DAMAGE-FANI
Cyclone Fani destroys Tk. 38.54 crore of standing crops: Dr Razzaque
DHAKA, May 7, 2019 (BSS) – The country witnessed a partial loss of different standing crops on 63,063 hectares of land in 35 districts due to the severe lashing of cyclonic storm ‘Fani’.
The accumulated financial loss also has been ascertained at Taka 38.54 crore due to inundation of these standing crops by the devastating cyclone Fani.
The Agriculture Minister Dr M Abdur Razzaque today said this while presenting the detailed report of the crop loss in a press conference at the ministry here this morning.
The agriculture minister said the boro crops on 55,609 hectares of land, vegetables on 3,660 hectares, maize on 677 hectares, jute on 2,382 hectares and betel leaf on 735 hectares land were the devastation left by ‘Fani’.
Dr. Razzaque said the different precautionary measures taking by government with the coordination with the meteorological department before advent of the cyclone helped to cut the figure of losses of lives and crops to minumum.
During the cyclone Fani, the minister said arrangement was taken to provide necessary information to the farmers through opening control room at regional, district and upazila level including the head offices of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and the Agriculture Information Services (AIS).
At least 13,631 farmers have been affected by the cyclone, Razzaque added. The government will undertake short- and long-term initiatives to compensate the farmers for their losses.
Besides, the government will provide necessary seed, fertilizer and financial incentives under the agriculture rehabilitation programme to compensate the crop loss of the farmers in upcoming aman season, he added.
Even the farmers will get free vegetable seed for cultivation of winter vegetable as part of the family nutrition, the minister told the press conference.
The cyclone affected 35 districts are Narayanganj, Tangail, Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Netrokona, B-Baria, Feni, Laxmipur, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Bogura, Jaipurhat, Sirajganj, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Chapainwabganj, Natore, Gaibandha, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Narail, Chuadanga, Faridpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Barishal, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jahalokhati and Pirojpur.
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