The ministry assessed that agriculture losses in 38 flood-affected districts stood at Tk 2,291 crore till July 25 while it was Tk 1,400 crore till July 21.

A meeting chaired by Agriculture Minister MK Anwar yesterday decided to supply seeds, saplings, fertiliser and pesticides to affected farmers for maximum one bigha farmland.

The ministry will grow saplings on 2200 acres of land for distribution among the farmers.

The Agriculture Extension Department will prepare a list of 12 lakh affected small farmers who will have the benefits of the rehabilitation project.

Out of 1.17 crore farmer families throughout the country, 37 lakh have been badly hit by floods. Some are big farmers who do not need government help. There are also a good number of landless farmers, who do not need farming aid, but need livelihood aid.

The government will help the landless farmers with relief and rehabilitation aids.

MK Anwar emerging out of the meeting told the press, "We may not be able to compensate for all the damage that flooding has inflicted on the farming community. We hope our farmers who are courageous and face such natural calamities every year, will try their best to overcome this year's problems with the same spirit."

The latest assessment by the ministry described jute as the worst affected crop incurring a loss of Tk 951 crore. Damage to aus rice was estimated at Tk 432 crore, sown aman at Tk 377 crore, transplant aman at Tk 74 crore, vegetables at Tk 121 crore and others Tk 310 crore.