Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Saturday said that there is sufficient stock of fertilizers in the country until December, and there will be no shortage.
Farmers will be able to purchase and use fertilizers 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 fertilizers is normal.
He urged people not to purchase or store additional fertilizers 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.
It is noteworthy that crops in 23 districts were damaged due to sudden floods starting on August 16, 2024.
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 wrost flood-hit districts are: Feni 35,673 hectares (80%), Noakhali 38,456 hectares (37%), Comilla 49,608 hectares (36%), Lakshmipur 15,626 hectares (33%), Chittagong 23,992 hectares (16%), Moulvibazar 15,222 hectares (12%), and Brahmanbaria 8,326 hectares (35%).
Agriculture Secretary Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mia, along with senior officials of the ministry and heads of various departments/agencies, were present at the time.
