Cyclone damages crops on 2.6 lakh hectares
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30/10/2008
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New Nation (Bangladesh)
Aman paddy, vegetables, mustard, pulses, chilli on 2,60,330 hectares of lands have been damaged in the devastating cyclone Reshmi in 30 districts in the country, according to sources of the Ministry of Agriculture.
A total of 2,60,330 hectares land with 2,15,495 under transplanted Aman, 2,655 hectares with B-Aman, 14,157 hectares of vegetables, 5,834 hectares of mustards, 4,452 hectares of pulses, 422 hectares of chilli and 17,315 hectares of other standing crops were ravaged in 30 districts across the country, sources said.
The current cyclone severely affected crops and vegetables in Borguna, Sariatpur, Madaripur, Barisal, Tangail, Narsingdi, Noakhali, Chandpur, Meherpur, Patuakhali, Jhalakhali, Perojpur, Bhola, Faridpur, Rajbari, Gopalgonj, Comilla, B'Baria, Chittagong, Laksmipur, Sirajgonj, Pabna, Jessore, Jhenaidah, Magura, Narail, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Kushtia and Chuadanga districts, sources in DAE said.
A total of 1,00,973 hectares of land with crops and vegetables were damaged in Borguna, 9,388 hectares in Sariatpur, 3,264 hectares in Madaripur, 45,048 in Barisal, 10,724 hectares in Tangail, 13,968 hectares in Narsingdi, 14,092 in Noakhali, 591 hectares in Chandpur, 14,399 hectares in Meherpur, 4,499 hectares in Patuakhali, 5,370 hectares in Jhalakhati, 4,499 hectares in Perojpur, 8,895 hectares in Bhola, 4,345 hectares in Faridpur and 5,290 hectares in Rajbari districts, sources added.
Besides another 964 hectares of land with Aman paddy, pulses, mustard and vegetables in Gopalgonj, 1,553 hectares in Comilla, 167 hectares in B'Baria, 5,275 hectares in Chittagong, 3,302 hectares in Lakshmipur, 3020 hectares in Sirajgonj, 526 hectares in Pabna, 1,969 hectares in Jessore, 150 hectares in Jhenaidah, 250 hectares in Magura, 4,820 hectares in Narail, 3,339 hectares in Bagerhat, 860 hectares in Satkhira, 1,160 hectares in Kushtia and 1,601 hectares in Chuadanga districts were also destroyed in the cyclone.
A high official of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) told The New Nation that a 30 members team, comprising high officials of the DAE has been sent out to assess the damage of crops in the affected areas.
Abdul Mazid Biswas, Director General of at DAE, told The New Nation, "They are now assessing damage of crops in cyclone hit areas and will be able to finalise the assessment within November 1." "The Ministry of Agriculture in support with Ministry of Disaster Management will start agriculture rehabilitation programme in severe flood-hit areas in first week of November," the Director General said.
Meanwhile, around 10 lakh people have been directly affected due to recent flood in 22 districts, according to Ministry of Food and Disaster Management sources. Crops of 22,984.6 acres of land were damaged fully and 3,27,749 acres partially due to inundation.