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Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid on Friday said farmers in five flood-affected districts of Chattogram will receive paddy seeds and seedlings, while all livestock in the affected areas will be vaccinated within the next 15 days.
The minister made the announcement while inaugurating the distribution of paddy seeds, agricultural inputs and livestock vaccination among flood-hit farmers, fish cultivators and livestock owners at Dohazari in Chandanish upazila of Chattogram.
Speaking to reporters after the inauguration, Aminur Rashid said the ongoing floods had caused the greatest damage to Aman paddy seedbeds.
“To address the situation, information on affected farmers has been collected through union- and block-level officials, and arrangements have been made to supply paddy seeds. For farmers whose land remains submerged, alternative seedbeds have already been prepared,” he said.
The minister said the government’s immediate priority is to prevent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease among livestock following the floods.
“The biggest post-flood risk is foot-and-mouth disease. That is why a large-scale vaccination campaign has begun from today, and we aim to vaccinate all livestock in the affected areas within 15 days,” he said.
To tackle the shortage of animal feed, the government has allocated Tk 3.5 million in the first phase, he added.
The minister also said a field-level survey is underway to assess the actual extent of damage suffered by fish farmers so that rehabilitation measures can be taken.
He further said the government plans to establish around 2,000 mini cold storage facilities across the country in phases to help farmers preserve their produce and reduce post-harvest losses.
Among others, Department of Agricultural Extension Director General Md Abdur Rahim, Department of Livestock Services Director Dr Md Boyezar Rahman, Chattogram Divisional Fisheries Director Md Anwar Hossain and other senior officials attended the programme.