Flood causes loss of over Tk 15.90b in fisheries, livestock sector: Adviser

FE Team | Published: August 26, 2024 00:51:51

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said on Sunday the devastating floods in 86 upazilas of 12 districts caused an estimated loss of over Tk 15.90 billion in the fisheries and livestock sector, reports BSS.
"The flash floods have incurred a massive loss in the fisheries and livestock sector which includes infrastructural damages, inundation of live fishes and destruction of animal feeds at a cost of Tk 15.90 billion, she said.
The adviser formally informed the journalists about the estimated loss of the sector due to the recent flash flood at a press briefing at her ministry's conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
The recent deadly floods particularly on Chattogram, Sylhet and Khulna divisions caused fatalities of huge livestock, destructed poultry and other animal foods worth of Tk 4.11 billion, the Adviser said.
The floods also have damaged around 180,899 fisheries hatcheries and enclosures, 90,768 tonnes of fishes and shrimps and 37.46 billion fish fries and post larva (shrimp) in those areas.
To overcome the losses of the sector, the fisheries and livestock advisor said steps will be taken for supplying and distribution of emergency animal feed, vaccination for checking livestock and poultry diseases and distribution of grass cutting machines.
The fisheries sector is playing an important role in food security, fulfilling nutritional demand, employment generation and poverty alleviation of the increasing population of the country, the advisor added.
Even the government will take rehabilitation programme for the fish farmers, said Farida Akhter, adding "the rehabilitation programmes include the distribution of credit, development of flood forecasting and precautionary system, providing necessary infrastructural support for saving the fish hatcheries and distribution of fish fries among the flood affected fish farmers".