Dependence on flood-season crop should be reduced in the country's very high and severe crop damage areas to avoid the magnitude of damage caused by floodings every year, reports

This was recommended by a study on crop damage in flood, which also suggested increased cultivation of dry-season crops along with crop-diversification and adequate government assistance for farmers to promote

The study on Flood Plain Zoning Based on Analysis of Flood Damage to Agricultural Production was carried out under the Japan-Bangladesh Joint Study Project.

A team of the Institute of Flood Control and Drainage Research of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Fed by Mir Shahidul Islam, presented the study report at a two-day seminar that concluded here on Wednesday.

It was found that "high, very high, and severe crop damage areas" are located on both banks of the river Jamuna, on both banks of Padma at downstream at the confluence of Padma-Jamuna, and on the bank of Old Brahmaputra.

The research was conducted among all types of small, medium and big farmers in 10 thanas of Manikganj and Kuri-gram districts where crop damage in flood is a regular feature.

It Identified theareas of different types of crop damage, that is relevant to national and regional level planning for development of priority areas for agricultural development.

The study assessed microlevel crop damage due to flood of various magnitude and suggested mitigating measures with appropriate agricultural practices to withstand flood risks.

There was an overwhelming response among farmers to increase cultivated areas in the cropping season subsequent to

flood. Increased cultivation of HYV boro rice was found to be very common among all types of farmers.

Therefore, it was recommended that assistance with the irrigation equipment be of real benefit to the farmers try-

ing to increase dry-season crops.

The study suggested that the government consider measures to promote dry-season crops in areas experiencing high, very high and severe crop damage.

The government assistance should include easy credit facility. assurance of adequate supply of seeds and fertilisers and ensuring timely availability of these facilities to the affected farmers.

An emergency supply of irrigation equipment — like the power tiller on loan or hire charge — would also help the farmers considerably.

It was suggested that while providing irrigation and other inputs, interest of small farmers be looked Into favourably as they are more vulnerable to floods.

Examining the crop damage data of 1987 and 19&, it was found that during all types of flood even high lands are inundated and the extent of inunda-Uon in any year was dependent upon the depth of inundation.

The duration of inundation is June-September, indicating that both the Kharif-1 (ApriP July/August) and Kharif-2 (July-November) seasons are affected by the floodings.

Analysing the micro-level crop damage in the study areas — Manikganj and Kurigram — it was found that both aus and aman are highly vulnerable to floods and yields were severely affected during the floods in 1987. 88 and-9?

The study observed that both medium and small farmers require loan after all types of flood while big farmers need loan or credit only after severe floods.

Majority of the farmers need seed and fertiliser after floods and irrigation equipment after flood for the dry season irrigation and stressed the need for better irrigation facilities to cope with damage suffered during the monsoon.