The recent floods in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Rangamati districts have caused a total loss of BDT 771.5 million in the livestock sector. In total, 161,394 livestock and poultry died in the floods. Around 3.33 million (3,333,642) livestock and poultry, along with 10,991 farms, were affected by the flooding. Nearly 78 percent of the total financial loss occurred in the Chattogram district alone. The biggest blow from the floods has been on farm-based livestock production. The Chattogram Divisional Livestock Office highlighted this information in the final report on the impact of floods and waterlogging.

The report states that a total loss of nearly BDT 771.5 million was incurred across 191 unions in 45 upazilas of the five districts in the Chattogram division. Of this, the loss in Chattogram district alone was around BDT 600.6 million, accounting for nearly four-fifths of the total damage. Losses in other districts include around BDT 135.39 million in Cox’s Bazar, around BDT 1.74 million in Bandarban, around BDT 29.98 million in Rangamati and around BDT 3.7 million in Khagrachhari.

In the floods, 10,991 livestock and poultry farms were damaged. The breakdown of losses includes around BDT 175.57 million across 4,756 cattle farms; over BDT 197.29 million across 6,235 poultry farms; roughly BDT 51.79 million for 910 tons of granulated feed; nearly BDT 215.68 million for 14,265 tons of straw destroyed in the floods; around BDT 82.61 million for 9,129 tons of ruined grass; and around BDT 48.54 million due to the death of livestock and poultry. In other words, the highest financial losses among the categories were in straw, poultry farms and cattle farms.

In Chattogram district, which suffered the most damage, the losses included nearly BDT 126.54 million across 4,218 cattle farms, around BDT 170.22 million across 5,674 poultry farms, around BDT 9.22 million for 162 tons of feed, BDT 69.6 million for 6,960 tons of ruined grass, and around BDT 38.67 million for dead livestock and poultry. This damage occurred across 108 unions in 15 upazilas of Chattogram district.

In total, 10,480 acres of grazing land were submerged across the division’s five districts, according to the report. Cox’s Bazar saw the most significant flooding of grazing lands. Specifically, 1,001 acres were submerged in Chattogram, 7,840 acres in Cox’s Bazar, 510 acres in Bandarban and 1,129 acres in Rangamati. No grazing land was flooded in Khagrachhari.

The floods resulted in the death of 71 cows, 165 goats, 50 sheep, 158,600 chickens and 2,508 ducks. The financial loss from the deaths of these animals and birds stands at nearly BDT 48.54 million. Of the total deaths, Chattogram district alone accounted for 39 cows, 95 goats, 42 sheep, 142,137 chickens and 1,300 ducks. In other words, the vast majority of livestock mortality occurred in the poultry sector.

Meanwhile, in the five districts, 223,390 cows, 4,755 buffaloes, 160,087 sheep, around 2.84 million (2,845,828) chickens and 70,370 ducks have been affected by the floods. The majority of these affected animals are located in the farms of Chattogram.

In total, 8 livestock offices across Chattogram’s five districts have been damaged by the floods, including 3 in Chattogram, 1 in Cox’s Bazar and 4 in Bandarban.

Medical treatment for livestock in the affected areas is currently ongoing. To date, 11,897 head of cattle and 84,650 poultry have received treatment. 10,689 head of cattle and 19,027 poultry have also been vaccinated, according to the report. Overall, the coverage of treatment and vaccination remains significantly lower than the number of affected animals.

Dr Mohammad Izmal Hasan, deputy director (veterinary public health) of the Chattogram Divisional Livestock Office, told Bonik Barta, “The floods have caused extensive damage to livestock and poultry. In many places, the water has not yet receded. But based on field-level data, the total final loss has been estimated at BDT 771.5 million. We’re still monitoring the situation in various locations.”

Stakeholders point out that nearly 78 percent of the total financial loss occurred in Chattogram district. The largest area of grazing land was submerged in Cox’s Bazar. Since the major portion of animal mortality occurred in the poultry sector and there has been extensive damage to animal feed, straw and grass alongside farms, restoring production to normal levels for the affected farmers is now the biggest challenge for the Department of Livestock Services.