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harvesting paddy. We will start a rehabilitation programme for affected farmers after the Boro season ends, or before the next season begins,” he added.

According to provisional DAE data, Boro paddy cultivation reached 50.50 lakh hectares in the fiscal year 2025-2026 (FY26), a 3.29 percent increase from the previous year.

Production has also risen in recent years, increasing from 2.01 crore tonnes in FY22 to 2.13 crore tonnes in FY25, with a target of 2.24 crore tonnes set for the current season.

Obaidur Rahman Mondol, director of the Field Service Wing at the DAE, said incentive distribution for jute farmers -- who sow seeds from March to May -- in affected areas has already been completed after identifying eligible beneficiaries.

He added that while government policy focuses on supporting the next cropping cycle, areas such as Kishoreganj are facing difficulties due to the absence of a follow-up crop.

Mondol also said the worst damage was reported in Itna, Nikli, and Mithamain upazilas of Kishoreganj, adding that a report has been submitted and any further action will follow ministry approval.

A recent US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report on Bangladesh forecasts that for marketing year 2026-27 (MY27), the total rice harvested area will be 11.8 million hectares, with production estimated at 37.4 million tonnes.

It said the harvested area is expected to rise by 0.4 percent compared to MY26, but production may fall by 0.7 percent due to lower yields from the ongoing Boro season.

The USDA report added that lower Boro rice yields are due to disrupted irrigation and fertiliser use, caused by fuel and fertiliser shortages linked to the Middle East conflict.

As of the third week of March 2026, limited rainfall has helped crop growth to some extent, but farmers remain concerned about shortages of diesel needed to operate shallow and low-lift irrigation pumps.