‘1.5 lakh farmers lost Tk 350 crore for Sitrang’

The cyclone Sitrang that swept over the country last week has caused a loss of around Tk 350 crore of 150,000 farmers in almost half of the country, the agriculture ministry said today.

Betel leaf and vegetable growers are severely affected as the cyclonic storm and rainfall damaged garden and vegetable fields.

Betel leaf growers suffered a loss of Tk 162 crore while vegetable producers Tk 98 crore owing to damages on 2,800 hectares of area.

The cyclone has damaged vegetable fields of farmers in 19 coastal and in the northwest districts, said a senior official of Department of Agricultural Extension.

The Sitrang affected food crops on 10,200 hectares area. Of that, Aman paddy on 5,600 hectares has been damaged causing a loss of Tk 66.5 crore.