2024-08-25 07:17:05
Interior and Agriculture Adviser Lt. Gen. Md. called for the necessary cooperation and rehabilitation by quickly determining the actual amount of damage in the agricultural sector in the flood-affected areas. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.).
On Saturday (August 24) in the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture, he made this call during an exchange of views with the heads of departments and organizations under the ministry and senior officials of the ministry.
Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian was present at the time.
The agriculture advisor said that the main priority is to ensure the production of Aman rice as per the target in the flood affected areas. If that is not possible, increase the production of useful crops including vegetables. To increase agricultural production, all arable land should be brought under cultivation. At this time, he directed the relevant officials of the ministry to ensure the supply of seeds and fertilizers and other agricultural materials, to prepare seed beds and to determine the overall preparation and to-do.
The agricultural adviser said that the agricultural officials should actively provide necessary assistance to the farmers from the field to ensure agricultural production during post-flood rehabilitation. At this time, he directed the concerned authorities to ensure the regular presence of the field level officials at the workplace.
The agricultural adviser also said that after the flood water recedes, quick action should be taken to clear the agricultural land if there is waterlogging for roads and other infrastructure. If necessary, with the cooperation of the concerned department/department, arrangements should be made by temporarily cutting the road or de-watering by convenient means.
In the meeting, the Secretary of Agriculture informed about the decision of depositing money equivalent to one day’s salary of all the officers and employees of the Ministry of Agriculture to the relief fund of the chief advisor of the government to help the flood-affected people of the country. The adviser appreciated this decision and urged everyone to cooperate in this time of crisis according to their ability.
In the meeting, the following decisions were taken to deal with the ongoing flood damage in different areas of the country-
Actual damage to agricultural crops in flood-affected areas, especially damage to seed beds of seedlings, transplanted aman and standing paddy, including other crops immediately after the receding of flood waters, should be assessed. In this case, priority should be given to the cultivation of rice, the main crop of Bangladesh. After delivery of rice rehabilitation programme, advance winter vegetable program will also be given for rehabilitation as per requirement; The operation of the control room of the Department of Agriculture Extension should be continued to collect data on agricultural damage due to floods.