Kendrio Krishak Moitri, a fermer’s right activist organization, holding a press conference demanded immediate rehabilitation of the
coastal area farmers of Patuakhali affected by cyclone Mahasen.The programme was held at Barisal Reporters Unity Friday afternoon.
Laily Begum, executive member KKM Kalapara unit reading a paper in press conference said crops cultivated on about 1,61,242 hectres of land fully and 54,423 hectres of land partially damaged by cyclone Mahasen in Patuakhali district loosing properties worth Tk. 15,84,12,170.
At least 455 domestic animals worth Tk. 27, 85,000 killed, 11,493 houses fully and 4,202 houses partially damaged, fishes cultivated on 15,000 ponds washed away and huge lands engulf with saline water as 24 kilometers embankment cracked.
Besides 69 agricultural information, training and marketing centres fully and 18 centre partially damaged by Mahasen affecting at least
20,000 out of 1, 00,360 farmers, sixty percent of whom are females, they said. In this situation the KKM leaders placed 10-point demands of rapid rehabilitation programmes for the affected farmers.
The demands included ousting saline waters from the crop lands, deployment of operators for operating and maintaining sluice gates,
culverts , sustainable reconstruction and repair of destroyed and damaged embankments, expanded agricultural rehabilitation programmes for affected farmers , without any corruption nepotism, biasness , interest-free, easy terms loan for livestock and fishery sectors etc.
Among others Md. Aladdin Shikder, general secretary, and president Kalaparaunit, Mosharref Hossain, Treasurer, Sheikh Jahidul Islam, joint Secretary, Mahabubur Rahman, Salma Begum, KKM leaders of Kalapara, Shamim Mallik, Golam Mostofa, Anisur Rahman of Dashmina, Taiyabur Rahman of Satkhira, attended and answered questions of the journalists in the press conference.
(Barisal Correspondent)
