Over Tk 29cr crops lost in Chandpur flood
Flood has damaged standing crops worth over Tk 29 crore in eight upazilas, according to an official estimate of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) here.
Crops on 7,297 hectares were fully damaged by the recent flood in the eight upazilas while 45,085 hectares of land were brought under cultivation in the entire district, official sources said.
As many as, 83, 500 farmers, most of them small and marginal, were worst affected due to crop loss. The crops include Aus and Aman paddy seed beds, vegetable and betel leaf plantation and sugarcane.
The worst affected crops were seedbeds of transplanted (Ropa) Aman, (50.68 per cent), according to official records.
In Haimchar upazila, betel leaf plantation was damaged to the tune of Tk 7.30 crore.
In Matlab North upazila, seed beds of Ropa Aman, Bona Aman and vegetables were damaged to the tune of Tk 5.83 crore.
In Sadar, standing seed beds of Aus, Bona Aman and vegetable were damaged to the tune of Tk 4.42 crore.
In Matlab South, Bona Aman and vegetables were damaged to the tune of Tk 3.22 crore.
In Faridganj upazila, seedbed of Ans and sugarcane were damaged to the tune of Tk 2.68 crore.
In Hajiganj upazila, Bona Aman and vegetables were damaged to the tune of Tk 2.5 crore.
In Shahrasti upazila, Aus and Bona Aman seed beds and vegetables were damaged to the tune of Tk 1.82 crore and in Kochua upazila, Aus and Bona Aman seedbeds and vegetables, were damaged to the tune of Tk 1.27 crore.
Farmers at Sadar, Haimchar and Matlab North said every year, natural calamities cause massive damage to their crops. Consequently, they are becoming pauper year after year.
They have urged the government to introduce crop insurance system in the country so that they can recoup the loss caused by natural calamities like flooding.
When contacted, the deputy director of DAE here Abdur Rashid said, 'If crop insurance is introduced in Bangladesh, our farmers will be highly benefited.'
The recent flood has left a trial of devastation, official sources said. The loss will go up further if flood occurs again, sources said.
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