Fani damaged crops worth Tk 38.5 cr: Agriculture Minister

The severe cyclonic storm Fani that hit the country's coastal areas on May 4 last damaged crops on some 63,063 hectares of land in 209 upazilas of 35 districts, Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak said today.

Briefing reporters at the secretariat, Dr Abdur Razzak showed an accumulated loss of Tk 385,402,500 in damages by cyclone Fani that affected some 13,631 farmers in the 35 districts.

He said Boro paddy on some 55,609 hectares, maize 677 hectares, vegetables on 3,660 hectares, jute on 2,382 hectares and betel leaf on 735 hectares were damaged by Fani.

The districts are Narayanganj, Tangail, Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Netrokona, Brahmanbaria, Feni, Laxmipur, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Bogura, Joypurhat, Sirajganj, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, Natore, Gaibandha, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Narail, Chuadanga, Faridpur, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Barishal, Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalakati and Pirojpur.

He assured that his ministry would provide seeds, fertiliser and cash to farmers under a rehabilitation programme to be implemented during the 2019-2020 period after making a list of the victims.

Dr Razzak said the ministry has directed the local administrations to drain out water from croplands and vegetable fields as post-cyclonic short-term steps and help the farmers harvest Boro paddy.

Terming the government as an agriculture-friendly one, Dr Razzak said the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and Agriculture Ministry are jointly working to stand beside farmers.