Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid distributed relief supplies and inaugurated cattle vaccination in flood-hit Dohazari, Chandanaish. Photo : ministry

CHATTOGRAM, July 17, 2026 (BSS)- Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid has said the government will continue in providing all necessary support to assist the farmers in the five flood-affected districts of Chattogram to help them resume agricultural activities as soon as possible. 

Free paddy seeds and seedlings will be distributed among farmers in the flood hit areas and within the next 15 days all cattle in the affected areas will be vaccinated, he said.

The minister made the remark while addressing reporters after distributing paddy seeds and other supplies to the affected farmers, fishermen and others. 

He also inaugurated the cattle vaccination initiative at Dohazari of Chandanaish.

The minister said Aman seedbeds in this area have suffered the most due to floods. Many seedbeds destroyed as those remained submerged under water for an extended period. 

Information is currently being collected and seeds are being distributed to the affected farmers, he said.

Aminur Rashid said, the government has initiated a plan to establish alternate seedbeds by taking land lease from farmers. The seedlings cultivated in those seedbeds will be distributed to the affected farmers within 15 to 20 days, he added.

Additionally, all cattle will be vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) within the next 15 days, he said.

The agricultural minister said an allocation of Taka 35 lakh has been designated in the initial phase to address the cattle food crisis.

At present, a field survey is being conducted, and once the actual extent of the damage will be ascertained, appropriate measures will be implemented to support the affected fish farmers, he added.

Amin ur Rashid referred to the government's long-term strategy aimed at ensuring fair prices for farmers' crops, stating that approximately two thousand mini-farms will be established in phases throughout the country to enable farmers to store their produces and sell it at a more favorable time. 
 
He mentioned that cold storage facilities will be constructed. The minister issued a clear warning regarding the need for a permanent solution to the issues of waterlogging and flooding, asserting that efforts to reclaim illegally occupied government canals and necessary excavation activities will be taken to mitigate floods and waterlogging. 

In areas where government canals have been encroached upon, relevant authorities will be directed to take prompt action to restore them, he said. 

Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension Abdur Rahim, Director of Department of Livestock Dr. Boyzar Rahman, and Director of Chattogram Divisional Fisheries Department Anwar Hossain were present among others.