RANGPUR, July 18, 2020 (BSS) – The floodwaters submerged standing crops on 11,087 hectares of land in 19 upazilas of all five districts in Rangpur agriculture region during this second phase of the deluge.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said there is almost no chance of submergence of more standing crops during this phase of the flood as the situation continues improving with recession of floodwaters.
Earlier, standing crops on 8,612 hectares of submerged land were damaged by the first phase of the season’s flood causing production losses of 32,664 tonnes of crops worth Taka 104.83 crore affected 82,412 farmers in the agriculture region.
“Floodwaters submerged standing crops on 13,465 hectares of land in first phase earlier this month, and damaged crops on 8,612 hectares of land,” Additional Director of the DAE) for Rangpur region Muhammad Ali told BSS today.
During the second phase of the deluge, floodwaters submerged standing crops on 11,087 hectares of land in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts of the region.
The submerged crops include standing Aman rice seedbeds on 914 hectares of land, Transplanted Aman rice on 719 hectares, Aush rice on 3,234 hectares, vegetables on 233 hectares, maize on 70 hectares, green chili on 62 hectares, ‘Tiil’ on 40 hectares, groundnut on 10 hectares and jute on 5,805 hectares of land.
The submerged crops on 11,087 hectares of land constitutes 6.90 percent of total standing crops on 1,60,483 hectares of land area currently in the agriculture region.
Meanwhile, the dissect level Deputy Directors, upazila level Upazila Agriculture Officers and other field level officials of the DAE have started assessing damages among submerged standing crops on 11,087 hectares of land in the agriculture region.
“A portion of the submerged crops would recover from the stresses for remaining under floodwaters for three to four days,” Ali said, adding that some portions of the submerged crops might be damaged due to submergence for a longer period.
Officials of all agriculture related departments, organisations and institutions and some NGOs, including RDRS Bangladesh, are visiting the affected areas and suggesting ways to the farmers to overcome the situation.
The flood-affected farmers are being suggested for preparing Aman rice seedbeds anew as enough time is remaining for transplantation of the seedlings till August next and taking preparation for cultivation of substitute crops after recession of floodwaters.
“The DAE and other agriculture related organisations are taking massive post-flood agri-rehabilitation programs as per government directives to assist flood-affected farmers of the region in recouping crop losses after recession of floodwaters,” Ali said.
The affected farmers are being suggested to prepare Transplanted Aman rice seedlings anew, cultivating early variety ‘mash kalai’, vegetables, maize and other crops on their affected croplands,” Ali added.
“The DAE has steps to prepare community level seedbeds of Aman rice in the flood-affected unions or villages to distribute the seedlings free of costs among flood-hit farmers locally at their own areas,” Ali added.