The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The devastating cyclone SIDR has damaged Aman paddy of nearly 5 lakh hectares of land on Thursday night, which will cost the country a deficit of 6 lakh metric tones.

An Agriculture Ministry meeting yesterday revealed that the volume of loss of crops might increase once the comprehensive report is available within the next 10 days.

This year the government set a production target of 1.30 crore MTs of Aman paddy. The second phase of flood had damaged crops of a big area of land for which the government fears 10 lakh MT less production of Aman paddy.

Agriculture Adviser CS Karim in the meeting with the heads of the different depart ments under the ministry emphasised on Boro and Mug dal cultivation to overcome the loss.

The Adviser asked the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials to supply adequate agri inputs so that the farmers can produce Boro and Mug dal to over come the losses.

The meeting, which was also attended by three retired director generals of the DAE, decided to seek extra funds based on the comprehensive reports to be submitted within the next 10 days. Rehabilitation programmes for the farmers will also be taken based on the report.

However, the DAE is yet to estimate the loss of other crops but is working on it.

Agriculture Secretary Abdul Aziz, former DAE DGs Ibrahim Khalil, Abdur Razzaq and Md Rahimuddin were present, among others, on the occasion.

Our Narsingdi correspondent said cyclone SIDR has damaged crops of 24,000 hectares of land. District DAE office said banana plantation of 1594 hectares of land, transplanted Aman of 18,730 hectares and winter vegetables of 3,095 hectares of land have been damaged by the devastating cyclone.