Recent floods caused by continuous heavy rain and hill runoff in different parts of the country have destroyed crops worth about Tk 478 crore, about half of it vegetables. The figures come from the agriculture ministry's final report on losses from excessive rain and flooding.

Analysis of the report shows that crops were destroyed on 24,138 hectares of the 8,17,000 hectares under cultivation in 43 districts. The lost output amounts to 1,33,972 tonnes, worth Tk 477.97 crore.

Summer vegetables suffered the most, accounting for about half the total loss. Of 2,14,000 hectares under vegetables, 87,967 tonnes of vegetables were lost on 8,836 hectares, a financial loss of Tk 231.96 crore.

The damaged crops also include Aus rice, Aman seedbeds, ginger, chilli, turmeric, papaya, watermelon, groundnut, jute, banana, sugarcane, muskmelon, maize and betel leaf. Of the damaged land, 12,783 hectares had been planted with Aus rice and 1,746 hectares with Aman seedbeds.

Crops worth Tk 188.55 crore were lost across these two rice crops. Chillies worth Tk 4.79 crore, ginger worth Tk 23 crore and turmeric worth Tk 9.5 crore were also destroyed.

Among fruit, papaya suffered a big loss: papaya worth about Tk 2.07 crore was damaged, and fruit of all kinds worth Tk 73.09 crore in total.

More than 2,43,000 farmers across the country were affected by this year's flood. The seven worst-hit districts were Brahmanbaria, Habiganj, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari.

According to agriculture experts, the widespread crop losses have raised fears of a supply crisis that could fuel food inflation further. Since the flood, prices of vegetables and several other fresh market items have risen.

With supply down, green chillies have already crossed Tk 300 a kg. Vegetables are selling at around Tk 100 a kg, and aubergine, cucumber and other vegetables have risen by Tk 20 to Tk 50 a kg compared with before the flood. Low- and middle-income buyers are under the most pressure.

Agricultural economist Jahangir Alam Khan said all farmers must be helped quickly so they are not discouraged from producing. Prices of many items linked to the flood have already risen in the market, he said, and if farmers do not get enough support they will cut back cultivation, with long-term effects on supply.

In his view, since there is still time to transplant Aman rice, affected farmers should be helped to prepare new seedbeds. Otherwise the loss will later threaten food security, because a large share of the country's food comes from the Aman crop.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) says seed and fertiliser are being provided with government support in the seven worst-hit districts.

Md Obaidur Rahman Mondal, director of DAE's field service wing, said work is under way to overcome the flood losses through seed and fertiliser support. About 63,000 farmers in the worst-hit districts have already been given late (nabi) Aman seed, suitable for late planting, to prepare seedbeds for Aus rice and transplanted Aman.

He said the remaining affected farmers will be helped before the winter crop planting season. Immediate help has been ensured for those genuinely affected, and those less affected will also get support.

The previous week, the fisheries and livestock departments confirmed the losses in their sectors. Two reports from them show total losses of Tk 399.12 crore.

According to the reports, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari were worst hit in these sectors. In 156 unions of these districts, 1,57,300 cattle, 4,148 buffaloes, 1,12,655 goats, 24,795 sheep, 11,91,020 chickens and 24,028 ducks were caught in the flood.

In these areas, 45 cattle, 123 goats, 40 sheep, 1,01,198 chickens and 1,521 ducks have already died. The flood also damaged 65 livestock farms and 63 poultry farms, and 118 tonnes of animal feed were destroyed.

According to the Department of Fisheries, 12,043 tonnes of white fish, 14,000 tonnes of shrimp, 18 lakh fingerlings and 259 lakh hatchlings were washed away in 602 unions. Losses to boats came to Tk 1.67 crore, to fishing nets Tk 1.23 crore, and to infrastructure, sluice gates, ponds, ghers and other items Tk 4,382 lakh.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.