By Engr Mamun Islam
RANGPUR, Sept 21, 2020 (BSS) – The government is implementing massive post-flood agriculture rehabilitation programmes to assist flood-affected farmers in recouping crop losses they incurred during recent floods in Rangpur agriculture region.
Under the programmes, huge incentives in terms of seedlings, seeds and fertilisers worth Taka 3.43 crore are being distributed among 47,326 flood-hit farmers of five flood-affected northern districts in the agriculture region.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials said distribution of incentives continues to assist each of the beneficiary farmers cultivating eight varieties of crops on one bigha of land.
“We have completed distribution of specially prepared late variety Aman rice seedlings spending Taka 1.15 crore among 15,131 flood-hit farmers who have re-transplanted those on 15,131 bigha of land,” Additional Director of DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Muhammad Ali said.
Under the government programmes, the DAE distributed community Aman rice seedbeds prepared on 221 acres of land in flood-hit areas spending Taka 96.09 lakh among 14,732 flood-hit farmers of the region.
Besides, late variety Aman rice seedlings especially prepared on 500 floating seedbeds at a cost of Taka 6.82 lakh were distributed among 100 flood-affected farmers.
“The DAE also distributed especially prepared late variety Aman rice seedlings on 9,568 floating trays spending Taka 12.43 lakh among 368 flood-affected farmers,” Ali added.
The DAE continues distributing 5 kg of ‘Mashkalai’ seeds, 10 kg of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and 5 kg of Muriate of Potash (MoP) fertilisers among each of the 3,900 flood-hit farmers spending Taka 29.83 lakh in the region.
“Besides distribution of seeds of 14 varieties of vegetables and incentives for fencing their crop lands continues among 28,200 affected farmers in flood-hit areas spending Taka 1.98 crore to assist them in recouping crop losses,” Ali added
Under the programmes, 3,206 flood-hit farmers of Rangpur, 21,821 of Gaibandha, 19,237 of Kurigram, 1,605 of Lalmonirhat and 1,457 farmers of Nilphamari are getting the assistance.
Ali said the recent floods had damaged standing crops on 15,413 hectares of land causing production losses of 45,848 tonnes of crops worth Taka 173 crore this season in the region.
The floods affected 1,71,079 farmers of 29 upazilas in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts by damaging their standing crops.
The floods damaged seedbeds of Aman rice on 1,266 hectares of land causing losses to seedlings worth Taka 18.76 crore affecting 14,570 farmers in these districts.
The flood caused production losses of 9,702 tonnes of Aush rice worth Taka 48.66 crore on 5,588 hectares of land affecting 39,730 farmers and 20,908 tonnes of vegetables worth Taka 41.81 crore on 1,244 hectares of land affecting 16,923 farmers.
The floods have caused production losses of 13,003 tonnes of jute worth Taka 52 crore on 6,443 hectares of land affecting 65,109 farmers and 424 tonnes of ‘Till’ worth Taka 3.39 crore on 428 hectares of land affecting 3,090 farmers.
The floods have caused production losses of 30.80 tonnes of ‘Kawn’ worth Taka 39.86 lakh on 20 hectares of land affecting 1,225 farmers and 1,230 tonnes of green chilli worth Taka 4.92 crore on 205 hectares of land affecting 1,408 farmers.
The floods have also caused production losses of 217 tonnes of ‘Cheena’ worth Taka 1.41 crore on 140 hectares of land affecting 215 farmers and 53.49 tonnes of groundnut worth Taka 26.74 lakh on 30.60 hectares of land affecting 305 farmers.
Besides, the floods damaged standing maize crop on 28.50 hectares of land causing a production loss of 239.35 tonnes of the crop worth Taka 35.89 lakh affecting 622 farmers in the region.
Flood-affected farmers Obaidur Rahman of Lalmonirhat and Abu Shams of Kurigram said they have cultivated Aman rice and other crops with government assistance on their affected crop lands after recession of floodwaters.