File Photo

DHAKA, July 29, 2026 (BSS) - Flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall damaged crops on 222 hectares of land in Manikganj district, affecting 4,885 small and marginal farmers.

Agriculture Secretary Dr Rafiqul I Mohamed told BSS that the government would take a decision promptly on providing necessary assistance and incentives to flood-affected farmers across the country, including those in Manikganj.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under the Ministry of Agriculture has already prepared a report on the damage to standing crops. The local administration has also prepared a report on the situation.

According to the latest data, the district received at least 301 millimetres (mm) of rainfall between July 4 and July 10, inundating standing crops across vast agricultural land.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, also the convener of Manikganj district BNP, has sent a letter to the agriculture ministry, seeking an emergency rehabilitation programme for the flood-affected farmers of the district.

The letter added, "If the government does not provide quick support to the farmers then the crop production of next season may be hampered and also will pose an extra pressure on the farm economy of the district."

"The recent downpour has severely affected the farmers of the district, and it is very difficult for them to recover from such irreparable losses. An urgent request has been made to the Ministry of Agriculture to provide incentives and launch an emergency rehabilitation programme so that farmers can resume cultivation as early as possible," she told BSS.

If the farmers get necessary seed, fertilizer and other required assistance, they will be able to return in production in next season, said the minister and lawmaker of Manikganj-3 constituency, covers Manikganj Sadar Upazila and Saturia Upazila.

Farmers in the district cultivate a wide range of crops throughout the year, including paddy, jute, mustard, maize, chilli, papaya and vegetables. Located close to the capital, the district is a major supplier of agricultural produce, playing a vital role in meeting the city's food demand.

In the current season, the DAE had set a target to produce different vegetables on 4,521 hectares of land, including papaya on 900 hectares, chilli on 430 hectares, jute on 221 hectares and transplant aman or T-aman seed bed on 10 hectares.
 
According to primary crop damage statistics, different standing crops on a total of 222 hectares of land have partially damaged due to the downpour.

On the other hand, different vegetables on 17 hectares of land, papaya on over 19 hectares, T-aman seed bed on 4.6 hectares, jute on 1.2 hectares and chilli on 10 hectares of land have completely damaged, said the crop damage report.

The downpour caused an approximate crop output damage of nearly 1471.5 tonnes which worth over Taka 3 crore, said the local DAE.

Talking to BSS, the agriculture secretary said, "we have received the letter from the civil aviation and tourism minister and necessary instructions have been given to the concerned officials to conduct the necessary assessment and verification of the crop loss."

The government is actively considering the matter of providing necessary assistance including seed, fertilizer, seedlings and other agricultural commodities to the affected farmers so that they can return to the crop production soon, said the secretary.