Cyclone Amphan damages 176,000 hectares of crop yield

Cyclone Amphan damaged 176,000 hectares of crop yield across the country.

Agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque came up with the information through an online press briefing on Thursday.

The cyclone caused massive damage in Satkhira mango orchards. Out of 4,000 hectares of mango cultivation in Satkhira, 3,000 hectares have been severely damaged which is 60-70 per cent of total cultivation in the district, said the minister.

He said that agriculture is always the most affected in any cyclone. This time, there was preparation after getting cyclone news on 15 May and the field level officials were aware about it. Due to advance preparation, there was less damage this time.

Abdur Razzaque said that there was 10 per cent loss in boro paddy, five per cent in maize cultivation, 15 per cent in vegetable, 20 per cent in peanut, 20 per cent in sesame, 10 per cent in mango, 5 per cent in litchi, 10 per cent in banana, 50 per cent in papaya, 30 per cent in chili, 50 per cent in soybean and mung dal cultivation respectively, where Aush paddy was slightly damaged.

Being asked, he said that it was preliminary information. The final loss could be known within the next 2/3 days.

Twelve people have been killed and three others injured as cyclone ‘Amphan’ slams different coastal districts of the country on Wednesday evening.