Cyclone Amphan affects crops of 1,76,000 hectares

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File photo

DHAKA, May 21, 2020 (BSS) – Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque today
said the cyclone Amphan wrecking havoc on coastal areas of the country
extensively damaged crops on about 1,76,007 hectares of land yesterday.

“Preliminarily, it was assessed that the cyclone affected the crops of
about 1,76,007 hectares of land,” he told a virtual view-exchange meeting
from his official residence here.

According to a preliminary report, Razzaque said, 47,002 hectares of Boro
paddy, 34,139 hectares of jute, 41,967 34,139 hectares of vegetables and
11,502 hectares of til were affected or damaged by the cyclone Amphan.

He said since the forecasting of the cyclone on May 15 last, the
agriculture ministry had taken massive preparation to tackle Amphan, while
all field level agriculture officers remained alert about the cyclone.

Necessary advices were given to farmers to minimise the loss of crops in
the super cyclone and as a result, the country did not witness massive crop
damage, the agriculture minister said.

Despite that, he said, some crops like mango, lichi, banana and vegetable
were affected due to Amphan and works are on assess the loss of crops caused
by the cyclone.

Razzaque said various stimulus packages, including distribution of
fertilizers and seeds and providing cash assistance, would be announced in
upcoming Aman season to help the cyclone-affected farmers minimise their
losses.

Besides, the agriculture minister said, loans will be distributed at four
percent rate among the affected farmers and fruit producers.

On the other hand, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab
Uddin said his ministry has formed four committees to assess the loss and
damage caused by the cyclone Amphan.

The bodies were asked to submit their reports within three working days,
he said.