Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak has said Bangladesh lost Tk263 crore in crop yield in 16 districts from cyclonic storm Bulbul that swashed across the country this week.
“A total of 50,503 farmers have suffered in 103 upazilas of those districts while the quantity of crops damaged is 72,212 tons,” he said at a press briefing at his ministry in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak speaks at a press briefing at his ministry in Dhaka on November 12, 2019 | PIDThe districts affected by the storm includes Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Narail, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Barguna, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Sariatpur, Noakhali, Feni and Laxmipur.
He also assured that the government will bring the affected farmers under a rehabilitation program following release of fund by finance ministry.
Saying that not all crops in affected areas were fully damaged, the minister also added: “We can give a full account of the losses when the water goes down finally.”
As per a statement released by the ministry on Tuesday, some 103 upazilas of 16 districts were affected by the cyclone.
The ministry said 14% of the entire land harvested in the country was affected by the cyclone, of which 8% suffered damages.
Fallen trees block road after cyclone Bulbul in Mongla, Bagerhat on Sunday, November 10, 2019 | Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune“Out of 20,83,868 hectors of agricultural land harvested in the country, some 2,89,006 were affected by the storm while crops in 22,836 hectors were damaged,” the statement said.
It also said harvests of Ropa Aman paddy, winter vegetables, mustard, grass pea, red lentil and betel leaf suffered the most in the districts due to the storm.
