Continuous rain and hill runoff from upstream have submerged crops in many parts of the country, including the hill region, causing extensive damage. The submerged cropland includes Aus rice, Aman seedbeds, jute, summer vegetables, chilli, ginger, turmeric, fruit and several other crops.

According to the agriculture department, rain and runoff had affected crops on more than 28,610 hectares in 12 districts as of Saturday, 11 July. The preliminary damage report also says crops on nearly 5 lakh more hectares in those areas are standing under water.

The affected districts are Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Sunamganj, Sirajganj, Habiganj, Naogaon, Jashore, Chuadanga and Meherpur.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecast very heavy rain again today (Sunday) in six divisions: Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet.

There are fears that the situation could have a major negative impact on the country's upcoming farm output.

Beyond agriculture, the fisheries sector has also suffered a major blow. Fish from ponds and shrimp enclosures (ghers) have been washed away in Chattogram division and other areas. According to the Chattogram district fisheries office alone, 9,933 ponds and dighis and 320 shrimp ghers in 153 unions of 15 upazilas of Chattogram were damaged, putting fish farming on about 4,100 hectares of water bodies at risk.

The Ministry of Agriculture said lists of affected farmers were being prepared at union and ward level in the flood-hit areas.

On Saturday morning in Cumilla, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said the government would give affected farmers the help they need once the lists were made.

However, he does not expect very heavy losses from this flood. "The Boro harvest is now over. Planting of seedlings has begun again, and that has not suffered any particular damage. But if the seedlings that have gone under water stay submerged for a long time, they will rot. We can assume that 25 percent of the seedlings planted have been affected by the flood. That is why we at the agriculture ministry have prepared to deal with any seed or seedling shortage wherever it arises," he said.

"We have collected information on how much paddy land has gone under water so far and how many seedlings will be needed to replant it, and made our preparations. Seedling production has been taken up in high-lying areas. Farmers may no longer have seed paddy at home, so we will try to supply seedlings," he said.

Farmers, however, say that if the water stays for another four or five days, the Aus rice and vegetables will be completely destroyed.

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