Government to Distribute 327 Tonnes of Paddy Seeds, Vaccinate 151,599 Animals in Five Flood-Hit Districts

Chattogram, July 17 (CTG Mail)

: Fisheries, Livestock and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid has said that the recent floods caused losses exceeding Tk 277 crore in the fisheries and livestock sectors across five districts, including Chattogram, as the government announced an emergency recovery package to support affected farmers and livestock owners.

Speaking at a late-night briefing at the Chattogram Circuit House on Thursday, the minister said the floods inflicted more than Tk 200 crore in damages to the fisheries sector and nearly Tk 77 crore to the livestock sector.

To accelerate post-flood recovery, the government will distribute 327 metric tonnes of paddy seeds, vaccinate 151,599 cattle and other livestock, and provide Tk 3.5 million worth of cattle feed to the worst-affected areas.

The briefing focused on assessing flood-related losses in the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors and outlining the government’s rehabilitation measures.

Among those present were Divisional Commissioner Dr Md Ziauddin, Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md Abdur Rahim, Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah, Director of the Department of Livestock Services Dr Md Boyzar Rahman, and Chattogram Divisional Fisheries Director Md Anwar Hossain.

The minister said the government has completed a union-level assessment of the damage and will prioritize assistance for the hardest-hit areas.

“No affected farmer, fish farmer or livestock owner will be deprived of government assistance,” he said, adding that rehabilitation efforts would be implemented based on the extent of losses.

Highlighting the agricultural impact, Amin Ur Rashid said widespread destruction of seedbeds has created a requirement for 327 metric tonnes of paddy seeds. He assured that sufficient seed stocks are available and that farmers whose land is ready for cultivation will receive seeds immediately.

For areas where fields remain unsuitable for sowing, the government has begun preparing emergency seedbeds on vacant public land. Rice seedlings grown there will be distributed to affected farmers within the next 15 days, he added.

The minister also warned that livestock diseases, particularly foot-and-mouth disease, tend to spread after floods. To reduce the risk, a vaccination campaign covering 151,599 animals will begin on Saturday and is expected to be completed within two weeks.

He further said that floods destroyed large quantities of straw and other animal feed, prompting the government to allocate Tk 3.5 million for emergency cattle feed. Distribution will begin in the most severely affected upazilas, with additional support to be provided if necessary.

The government, he added, remains committed to restoring agricultural production and protecting the livelihoods of farmers, fish producers and livestock rearers affected by the floods.