Sharif Ahmed, Abdullah Miajy, and Humnath Bhandari
The recent severe flooding in Bangladesh has significantly affected the country’s rice production, particularly Aus and Aman rice crops. The floods destroyed the near-mature Aus rice, leaving farmers with no prospects for harvest. However, Aman rice had just been transplanted but was at risk, heightening concerns among farmers about the availability of seeds and seedlings for replanting. Despite the devastation, there is still a narrow window for replanting short-duration Aman rice varieties following the receding floodwaters.
In response to this crisis, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) quickly mobilized support by securing 1,200 kilograms of seeds from two short-duration rice varieties, Binadhan-17 and BRRI dhan39. IRRI collaborated with the Department of Agriculture Extension Ministry of Agriculture to initiate the production of rice seedlings and facilitated their distribution to flood-affected farmers. Under the supervision of the Upazila Agriculture Officer, with guidance from the Deputy Director of DAE, seedling production was carried out in Nabinagar Upazila, Brahmanbaria.
IRRI supported this response to support the rice farmers as part of its CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Intensification of Mixed Farming Systems (SI-MFS), reflecting a strong commitment to supporting farmers during this critical period. IRRI has covered all costs associated with seedling production and distribution, strengthening its commitment to helping farmers recover from the devastating flood.
“Aman transplanting has already been completed, and obtaining new seeds at this stage is challenging. The support from IRRI has been a tremendous contribution for flood-affected farmers,” said a local Agriculture Officer involved in the effort. “With these seedlings, farmers can replant their fields, minimizing losses and contributing not only to their food security but also ensuring feed availability for livestock, as rice straw is a key resource for cow feeding.”
The recent flash floods have affected around 337,000 cropland hectares across eight Bangladesh regions. According to government reports, Bangladesh's Chittagong and Comilla regions have been particularly hit hard, with over 45% of Aman paddy fields submerged.
More than 1.4 million farmers have been impacted by the floods, with 23% of total cropland in the affected areas, 43% of crops fully destroyed, and the rest partially damaged. Feni District has been the worst affected, with over 90% of the population severely impacted and 48% of homes destroyed.
Through its timely intervention, IRRI is helping farmers mitigate the impact of these floods and rebuild their livelihoods in the face of adversity.
Reference:
(https://businesspostbd.com/economy/agriculture/floods-devastate-337000-hectares-of-cropland).
(https://businesspostbd.com/economy/agriculture/floods-cause-tk3346cr-in-crop-damage).
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