Agriculture Minister Mohammed Aminur Rashid has announced a series of emergency measures to facilitate farmers' recovery from flood-related losses. These measures include the establishment of special seedbeds, distribution of paddy seedlings, supply of dry cattle feed, and a vaccination campaign against foot-and-mouth disease. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Measures for Crop Recovery
The minister highlighted that Aman paddy seedbeds have suffered significant damage due to the ongoing floods, with many newly sprouted seedlings submerged and destroyed. To address this, the government will establish emergency seedbeds on land owned by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in flood-affected areas. These paddy seedlings will be distributed to farmers as soon as floodwaters recede.
Support for Livestock and Fisheries
Recognizing the impact on livestock, the minister announced that the government will supply dry cattle feed, straw, and bran to affected areas. Additionally, a large-scale vaccination campaign for livestock will be launched within the next one to two days to combat the increased risk of foot-and-mouth disease during the monsoon season. For the fisheries sector, a list of affected fish farmers is being prepared, and necessary assistance will be provided.
The government's objective is to quickly rehabilitate flood-affected farmers, livestock owners, and fish farmers, restore normal agricultural production, and ensure the country's food security. Officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) are collecting field-level information around the clock, and a dedicated control room has been opened at the ministry to monitor the situation.
