DHAKA, Oct 24, 2022 (BSS) – The Agriculture Ministry has suggested cutting Aman rice, which is 80 percent ripe, to minimise the possible brunt of the approaching cyclonic storm Sitrang.

The direction was given along with a set of directives in a preparatory meeting of the ministry at its conference room with Agriculture Secretary Md Sayedul Islam in the chair.

Leave of all officers and employees of offices and organisations under the ministry has been canceled and they have been asked to stay in office constantly to face the urgent situation.

Control rooms should be opened at agriculture department offices at district and upazila levels to keep communication round the clock.

Farmers should be given necessary suggestions to take pre-cautionary measures and face the post-cyclone situation.

Deputy assistant agriculture officers and agriculture officers will have to stay at the field level to observe the situation and provide suggestions to agriculture.  

They will have to submit report urgently to the ministry after examining the post-cyclone damages.

Post-cyclone rehabilitation plan should be kept readied as farmers can be provided with assistance within the quickest possible time.

Measures should be taken immediately if water enters agricultural fields in the coastal areas.

Agriculture officers should make constant coordination with district and upazila administration.

Sluice gates should be operated to prevent entrance of saline water in cornfields.

Measures should be taken quickly if saline water enters due to higher tidal surge.

The Agriculture Department will keep communication with the Water Development Board regularly to this end.

Agriculture Department Additional Secretary Rabindrasri Barua and other concerned officials were present at the meeting.