Govt implementing Tk 11.06cr post-flood rehabilitation schemes in Rangpur
By Mamun Islam
RANGPUR, Nov 5, 2020 (BSS) – The government is implementing post-flood
agriculture rehabilitation programme involving Taka 11.06 crore to assist
1,38,500 farmers in recouping crop losses they incurred during recent floods
in Rangpur agriculture region.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials said farmers will
get support in all five flood-affected districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha,
Nilphamari, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat in the region to cultivate substitute
crops during this Rabi season.
“Distribution of the incentives continues now to assist each of the flood-
hit farmers in cultivating eight varieties of crops on one bigha of land,”
Acting Additional Director of DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md.
Moniruzzaman told BSS today.
After getting the post-flood government assistance in terms of seed and
fertilisers, each of the beneficiary farmers will cultivate eight early
varieties Rabi crops on one bigha of land in flood-affected areas.
The flood-hit farmers are getting cost-free seeds, Di-ammonium Phosphate
(DAP) and Muriate of Potash (MoP) for cultivating early Rabi crops like
wheat, mustard, sunflower, groundnut, lentil ‘Khesari’, tomato and green
chili under the programme.
“Under the programme, 530 tonnes of wheat seeds worth over Taka 2.44 crore
is being distributed among 26,500 flood-hit farmers with 20 kilogram (kg)
each,” he said.
Some 28,000 flood-hit farmers will get 28,000 kg of mustard seeds worth
Taka 27.64 lakh with one-kg each and 11,300 farmers will get 11,300 kg of
sunflower seeds worth Taka 1.58 crore with one kg each.
“A total of 10,000 farmers will get 100 tonnes of groundnut seeds worth
Taka 1.24 crore with 10 kg each and 18,500 farmers will get 5,550 kg of chili
seeds worth Taka 55.50 lakh with 300 gram each for cultivation of these
crops,” Moniruzzaman said.
Some 13,100 farmers will get 60.50 tonnes of lentil seeds worth Taka 73.81
lakh with five kg each and 15,100 farmers will get 120.80 tonnes of ‘Khesari’
seeds worth Taka 1.08 crore with eight kg each.
Besides, 16,000 flood-affected farmers will 800 kg seeds of tomato worth
Taka 16 lakh with 50 gram each during this Rabi season in the region.
“The beneficiary farmers will get 766 tonnes of DAP fertiliser worth Taka
1.07 crore and 673.50 tonnes of MoP fertiliser worth Taka 87.55 lakh for
cultivation of these crops under the programme,” he added.
Earlier in September last, the government also extended special assistance
to 47,326 flood-hit farmers in re-transplanting Aman rice seedlings and
cultivating other crops on their flood-affected crop lands in Rangpur
agriculture region.
Under the programme, the beneficiary farmers got specially prepared Aman
rice seedlings, seeds of ‘Mashkalai’, 14 varieties of vegetables, DAP and MoP
fertilisers and vegetables and cash money for fencing crop lands in the
region. The DAE officials said recent floods in three phases damaged standing
crops on 42,055 hectares of land causing production losses of 1,49,416 tonnes
of crops worth Taka 499.16 crore this year affecting 4,49,285 farmers in
Rangpur agriculture region.
Talking to BSS, flood-hit farmers Rahamat Ali and Obaidur Rahman of
Lalmonirhat and Saidar Rahman and Nasir Uddin of Kurigram said they have re-
transplanted Aman rice seedlings and are cultivating Rabi crops with
government assistance.