Flood costs Tk 33.5b in crop losses in south-east

The deluge in south-east and other parts has devastated the key staple rice and other crops in 23 districts, damaging 1.0-million tonnes of produce worth Tk 34 billion so far.
Agriculture ministry in its primary projection, released on Friday night, said 1.43-million hectares of land were brought under farming in the districts affected by flash flood, coupled with days of driving rain.
A total of 0.372-million hectares, or more than 26 per cent of the total standing crops, have been inundated in the districts.
According to the report, crops on 0.21-million hectares might witness complete damage. However, more than 0.3-million hectares of standing Aus and Aman crops have witnessed partial to total damage.
The another blow from the flood, caused mainly by the opening of sluice gates in upstream river dams in India, also hit hard Aman seedbeds on 20,600 hectares. Of them, 14,000 hectares might witness total damage.
Apart from rice, vegetables also witnessed a blow as 11,290 hectares might experience total damage, said the ministry.
The farmers have banana and other fruit gardens on 38,091 hectares of which above 12,414 hectares are ravaged by floodwaters.
Ginger, turmeric, sugarcane, green chilli, tomato, papaya and eddo crops also witnessed severe damage.
The projection estimates losses worth Tk 33.5 billion in the crop sector so far.
When asked, Md Tajul Islam Patwary, director general of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said water was receding in many districts.
Primary estimates would be reviewed after getting more reports from the areas, which were out of contacts, he added.
The DAE is working to source Aman seedlings for farmers from different areas as water has receded from crop fields.
In another development, the death toll from the floods in 11 south-east districts has climbed to 59, with five more deaths reported on Saturday, according to the latest briefing of the disaster management and relief ministry.
Of the fresh fatalities, four were from Feni and one from Noakhali.
The mounting death toll now includes 23 in Feni, 14 in Cumilla, nine in Noakhali, six in Chattogram, three in Cox's Bazar, and one each in Brahmanbaria, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar and Laxmipur.
In total, 0.696-million families are still stranded across 68 upazilas in Feni, Cumilla, Chattogram, Khagrachhari, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Laxmipur and Cox's Bazar, impacting 5.45-million people in 504 municipalities and unions.
The ministry reported a stable situation in Chattogram, Habiganj, Sylhet, Cox's Bazar and Khagrachhari, while improvement has been noted in Moulvibazar, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla, Feni, Noakhali and Laxmipur districts.
As of now, 0.393-million people have sought refuge in 3,928 shelter centres, with 36,139 domestic animals also housed there.
A total of 519 medical teams have been deployed to provide healthcare services in flood-hit areas.
The government has supplied Tk 45.2 million to districts for faster recovery.
Additionally, 20,650 tonnes of rice and 15,000 packets of dry and other food items like baby food and fodder worth Tk 7.0 million have been distributed.
With floodwaters receding in some areas and road communication starting to improve, evacuees are beginning to return home.
The authorities have been instructed to take necessary steps to prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases following the retreat of floodwaters.
Meanwhile, the flood forecasting and warning centre on Saturday reported that all major rivers across the country were flowing below danger level.
Water level in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna river system is decreasing. The Ganges-Padma rivers remain stable, a trend expected to persist for the next 48 hours.
In the northern region, rivers like Teesta, Dharla and Dudhkumar are also receding and likely to maintain their normal flow during this period.
Major rivers in north-eastern and eastern parts are experiencing a fall in water levels.
The Met office forecast no massive rainfall in these areas or adjacent uplands over the next two days, expecting to further lower the levels of Surma, Kushiyara, Manu, Khoai, Feni, Muhuri, Gomti and Titas rivers.
In the south-eastern region, rivers like the Sangu, Matamuhuri, Karnaphuli and Halda are also witnessing decreasing water levels, with no heavy rainfall predicted for the next 48 hours.
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