Disaster management experts at an international seminar yesterday underscored the need for developing monthly and seasonal flood forecasting technologies for agricultural planning and management, as climatic changes are likely to affect agriculture badly. They also suggested validating and disseminating the already developed know-how of forecasting flood ten days ahead and emphasised on special attention on the flash flood areas. At present, Bangladesh can forecast flood for 72 hours, but the new technology that has been piloted in Rajpur of Lalmonirhat, Uria of Gaibandha, Kaijuri of Sirajganj, Bekra Atgram of Tangail and Gazirtek of Faridpur districts could be applied countrywide from next year. The recommendations came after a two-day seminar on 'Long lead flood forecast technology for disaster management' organised by water resources ministry in association with USAID and CARE Bangladesh at a city hotel. Flood management experts from the US, Japan, Nepal, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand and Bangladesh are parting in the seminar to share the findings of the technology for collaboration. Speaking at the concluding seminar, Additional Secretary to Water Resources Ministry Badrul Alam Tarafdar said,