TDS Desk:

Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury  Saturday (September 14) said that there is sufficient stock of fertilisers in the country until December, and there will be no shortage.

Farmers will be able to purchase and use fertilisers according to their needs, the adviser said this while speaking as the chief guest at a meeting held at the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The meeting discussed the flood situation in various districts of the country, reviewed the rehabilitation measures taken for flood victims, and assessed the progress of implementation.

The meeting also exchanged views on the activities of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC).

The adviser mentioned that the process of importing fertilisers is normal.

He urged people not to purchase or store additional fertilisers out of fear of a potential future shortage.

He also instructed authorities concerned to complete the rehabilitation of farmers affected by the floods with transparency and speed.

While crops in 23 districts were damaged due to sudden floods starting on 16 August, a total of 372,733 hectares of land were submerged in these districts. The affected agricultural land is 208,573 hectares.

The estimated loss in crop production is 714,514 metric tons worth approximately Tk 3,346 crore. The number of affected farmers is 1,414,089. In the 23 flood-affected districts, 14.58% of the total cultivated crops were destroyed.

The amount of affected land in the seven worst flood-hit districts are: 35,673 hectares (80%) in Feni, 38,456 hectares (37%) Noakhali, 49,608 hectares (36%) in Cumilla, 15,626 hectares (33%) in Lakshmipur, 23,992 hectares (16%) in Chattogram, 15,222 hectares (12%) in Moulvibazar, and 8,326 hectares (35%) in Brahmanbaria.

Agriculture Secretary Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mia, along with senior officials of the ministry and heads of various departments and agencies were present at the time.