[🇧🇩] Agriculture in Bangladesh

[Saif]

Average Aman yield increases

The average yield of rice in the ongoing Aman season has increased this year, ushering hopes to compensate the damage Bangladesh incurred in 14 districts due to July-August flooding. As above 56 per cent of Aman harvest has been completed so far, according to official statistics, farmers are

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Average Aman yield increases
Yasir Wardad
Published :
Dec 20, 2024 01:17
Updated :
Dec 20, 2024 01:17

The average yield of rice in the ongoing Aman season has increased this year, ushering hopes to compensate the damage Bangladesh incurred in 14 districts due to July-August flooding.

As above 56 per cent of Aman harvest has been completed so far, according to official statistics, farmers are getting 3.11 tonnes of rice on average per hectare of land.

The country produced an all-time high of 16.7-million tonnes of rice in the last Aman season when average yield was 2.90 tonnes per hectare.

This fiscal year, the expectation was higher at 17.6-million tonnes on 5.9-million hectares, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

But the devastating flood in south-east for heavy rain and sudden water release from neighbouring India in July-August caused severe damage to nearly 0.3-million hectares of standing crops, said a DAE official.

Despite the losses, according to him, driving rain and short-time floods in many places have helped raise productivity.

DAE director general Md Saiful Alam said the average yield per hectare has so far been 3.11 tonnes.

"An estimated 56-per cent Aman harvest has been made and we are expecting completion by the first week of January," he added.

With the end of the harvest, Mr Alam said, the average yield might be 2.95 to 3.0 tonnes.

After flood damage, an estimated 5.67-million hectares of Aman crop were in the fields.

The production might be static or rise a little bit, thanks to a surge in per-hectare yield, observed Mr Alam.

However, rice prices still remain higher amid the Aman season as coarse rice is selling at Tk 55-56, medium at Tk 65-68 and finer at Tk 72-88 per kg at groceries.

Following seasonal floods, the interim government has removed almost all duties on rice import for the private sector.

The public sector also attempts to import 0.5-million tonnes.

Besides, food directorate has started its annual Aman procurement with a target for 0.7-million tonnes of food grain.​

 

[Saif]

Mechanisation in farming needs easy access to funds: USAID study

Access to finance is a big barrier to mechanization in farming in Bangladesh and so the lenders should do more to support the agriculture sector. "Smallholder farmers and agri-businesses in Bangladesh continue to face significant barriers in accessing the financial resources they need to thrive,"

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Mechanisation in farming needs easy access to funds: USAID study
FE REPORT
Published :
Dec 20, 2024 10:27
Updated :
Dec 20, 2024 10:27

A workshop on Thursday disclosed findings of a USAID study on challenges facing the agriculture sector of Bangladesh, implemented by Palladium International in partnership with SAJIDA Foundation

Access to finance is a big barrier to mechanization in farming in Bangladesh and so the lenders should do more to support the agriculture sector.

"Smallholder farmers and agri-businesses in Bangladesh continue to face significant barriers in accessing the financial resources they need to thrive," reads a press release issued by the USAID.

An USAID study, implemented by Palladium International in partnership with SAJIDA Foundation, dug up the findings that were made public on Thursday at a workshop in the capital.

The Inclusive Access to Finance (IAF) Activity was aimed at addressing the challenges and improving the access to finance in the agriculture sector.

The event brought together policymakers, high officials from financial institutions, and other key stakeholders to validate the preliminary findings of the assessment "Access to Finance Landscape and Inclusive Development in Bangladesh" (AFLID).

The workshop featured discussions and valuable insights on the findings of the assessment.

The preliminary findings from the assessment showed that lending institutions come across factors including high operating costs, information asymmetry, a lack of financial literacy among borrowers, and unpredictable weather while considering loan disbursement to farmers.

The participants spoke of opportunities to improve agriculture financing through specialised credit products, better operational efficiency, a stronger and digitalised system for assessing and distributing loans, and collaboration between the regulators and lending institutions.

Kazi Rafiqul Hassan, executive director of the Bangladesh Bank, the chief guest at the event, emphasized the government's commitment to addressing the barriers faced by the agriculture sector stakeholders.

"The SME department of the central bank is enforcing a rule that requires 25 per cent of the total portfolio of banks' loans and advances to be allocated to the SME sector."

Moreover, Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank are dedicated to agricultural financing, which will further enhance inclusive accessibility of agricultural funding, Mr Hassan added.

Joseph Lessard, director of the Office of Economic Growth, USAID Bangladesh, emphasised the need for all stakeholders to work together - "Achieving inclusive access to finance in Bangladesh is a complex challenge, particularly due to the challenges in reaching farmers, and other underserved communities in a cost-effective manner and with financial services that meet their needs."

The government and the private sector must play important roles in creating an ecosystem of financial services that meet the needs of farmers and agribusinesses, he said.​

 

[Saif]

Bumper harvest, but rice prices soar

That the per-acre Aman rice yield this season is notably higher than that of the last season, when the country reportedly had produced an all-time high of 16.7 million tonnes of Aman, is a piece of welcome news. Despite an increase in per-acre yield, it is hard to make assessment of the actual Aman

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bumper harvest, but rice prices soar
FE
Published :
Dec 21, 2024 22:05
Updated :
Dec 21, 2024 22:05

That the per-acre Aman rice yield this season is notably higher than that of the last season, when the country reportedly had produced an all-time high of 16.7 million tonnes of Aman, is a piece of welcome news. Despite an increase in per-acre yield, it is hard to make assessment of the actual Aman production this year because of the consecutive floods in the months of July and August and the damage caused to standing Aman crop in the affected areas. Even before the floods, the prices of rice had been rising, showing no impact of successive good Aman and Boro rice harvests in recent years. Against the backdrop of an unabated rise in the prices of the main staple in the recent months, the government has lifted almost all duties on the import of rice by the private sector, but to no effect. The prices of most varieties of rice are still on the rise.

Despite the indication of a good Aman harvest this year, rice prices continue to be stubbornly high because in some cases the market here does not follow the law of demand and supply. Syndicates of unscrupulous sections of the traders rule the roost in the market and make super profits. Needless to say, in such a situation, prices in the local market can only have an upward trend. During the immediate past regime, people saw the drama of market monitoring and intervention as well as dialogue with the traders but market continued to behave irrationally. The reason behind this strange phenomenon is that the problem lies very much with the political bigwigs and their cohorts. This can happen only when these powerful people are themselves engaged in plundering country's resources and siphoning the same off to other countries. Encouraged by the corrupt practices of the big shots, the dishonest traders bother little about the directives from higher authorities to keep prices under control. The rise in the prices of agricultural inputs and fair wages for labourers and dominance of a section of corporate entities in farm produce marketing might have fuelled prices of rice and some other farm goods at the retail level.

A riddle of the country's level of rice production is that the deposed regime had always claimed that it raised rice production to the level of self-sufficiency but Bangladesh has been importing a bulk quantity of rice and other food grains every year. This suggests the existence of a gaping hole between the claim and the actual production. This is also indicative of serious statistical manipulations by the then government in the calculations of GDP growth, per capita income and inflation rate. It is imperative that correct assessment is made in all these areas. The myth of self-sufficiency in rice production trumpeted by the Hasina regime needs to be broken and right measures should be taken to reach that goal sustainably.

The importance of the Aman season is that its contribution to the country's annual cereal crop production is the second highest, next to only the Boro season. So, monetary support and timely supply of adequate quantities of inputs should be ensured to maintain this rising trend of Aman production along with Boro and other crops. The removal of the factors responsible for giving rise to distortions in production and marketing of farm produce, including staples, is also essential.​

 

[Saif]

Farm mechanisation needs to be targeted, sustainable

Experts at a workshop held recently put emphasis on the need for evidence-based policies that prioritize regional demands, improve governance in subsidy distribution, and create a supportive environment for local industries. They maintained that achieving sustainable agricultural mechanisation wou

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Farm mechanisation needs to be targeted, sustainable
Speakers opine at IFPRI workshop
FE REPORT
Published :
Dec 23, 2024 10:48
Updated :
Dec 23, 2024 10:48

Experts at a workshop held recently put emphasis on the need for evidence-based policies that prioritize regional demands, improve governance in subsidy distribution, and create a supportive environment for local industries.

They maintained that achieving sustainable agricultural mechanisation would require collaborative efforts, targeted financial interventions, and regulatory reforms to ensure equitable access and long-term viability.

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, convened the knowledge -- sharing workshop on "Agricultural Mechanisation in Bangladesh" at a local hotel.

The workshop presented IFPRI's preliminary research findings and fostered dialogue among policymakers, researchers, practitioners, bankers, and industry experts to enhance agricultural mechanisation.

Dr Akhter Ahmed, Country Representative of IFPRI-Bangladesh, emphasized the critical need for targeted and sustainable agricultural mechanisation.

Dr Md Mahmudur Rahman, Additional Secretary (PPC Wing), Ministry of Agriculture, as the chief guest at the workshop highlighted the critical importance of evidence-based research in shaping the future of agricultural mechanisation policies in Bangladesh.

IFPRI Research Fellow Dr Mehrab Bakhtiar and Associate Research Fellow Dr Moogdho Mahzab presented IFPRI's ongoing policy research on farm mechanisation in Bangladesh. The presentation highlighted critical insights from IFPRI's research on agricultural mechanisation in Bangladesh, focusing on the alignment of machine allocation with regional agro-ecological needs, governance challenges, and market dynamics. Key findings highlighted regional disparities in machine distribution, with some high-production areas being overlooked in the distribution process.

Dr Md Ayub Hossain, Former Director, Training and Communication Wing, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) stressed that agricultural mechanisation goes beyond distributing machines and must focus on effective utilization and farmer training.

Dr Imanun Nabi, Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) highlighted the need for nuanced policies to address challenges in mechanisation, particularly for smallholder farmers who cannot afford machinery independently.

Dr Ruhul Amin Talukder, Senior Policy Advisor at IFPRI and Former Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, skillfully moderated the discussion, offering profound insights into Bangladesh's agricultural policies.​

 

[Saif]

Time to recognise women's contribution in agriculture

Explore the challenges women face in agriculture and the urgent need for equal opportunities.

www.thedailystar.net

Time to recognise women's contribution in agriculture

Policies that validate women’s labour and ensure equitable access to resources have the power to transform agricultural systems.

Women's contributions in agriculture and their right to equal opportunities in this sector remain one of the most overlooked aspects of gender inequality. Perhaps this reflects a broader societal blind spot, particularly among urban communities that seldom look beyond their immediate realities to understand the silent struggles of women farmers. While issues of gender inequality in other domains receive widespread attention and advocacy, it is equally important to amplify the voices of those at the margins—voices that often go unheard in policymaking.

During a multistakeholder consultation in Bogura organised by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), which was focused on the post-change expectations of the masses, a woman farmer highlighted a glaring injustice in agricultural policies, saying that women farmers are not always officially recognised as farmers, and therefore are mostly excluded from accessing farmer cards. This exclusion denies them essential benefits such as loans, quality fertilisers, and other agricultural services. For some women, the way to access these benefits is through cards issued in the names of their sons or husbands. However, this option is not viable for everyone—single women, widows or those seeking independence are left without recourse.

The demand for equal rights and recognition brought to light a stark reality: women who contribute significantly to agriculture are still almost invisible in policy frameworks. The consultation revealed not just the depth of this inequity, but also the gravity of ingrained gender bias in agriculture that perpetuates inequality, denying women the tools they need to thrive and holding back the broader development of the sector.

Despite women making up 26.2 percent of the total employed population in agriculture in Bangladesh, they remain far behind men in terms of access to resources, land ownership, and decision-making power. This marginalisation is not unique to Bangladesh—it reflects a global pattern where women's contributions to agriculture are systematically undervalued.

Even though 40 percent of women were expected to be included in the smart card programme, a study by the International Land Coalition found that only 30 out of 197 women surveyed across four districts of Bangladesh had access to farmer cards. This highlights significant policy failures in recognising women as farmers. During the PPRC consultation, it was evident that remaining excluded from the programme limited women farmers' access to loans, inputs, and market power, thereby perpetuating inequalities and undermining their livelihoods.

Even when women overcome social barriers to participate in agriculture, they face wage discrimination. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), women farmers earn Tk 400-500 ($3-4) per day, compared to Tk 600 ($5) earned by their male counterparts. These disparities persist despite the labour law designed to ensure equality.

Land ownership is another critical issue. Globally, women own significantly less land than men, and in South Asia, only 4.8 percent of women in Bangladesh and 12.8 percent in India hold land. This limits women's ability to influence household and community decisions. Research shows that when women own land, they are more likely to participate in agricultural decision-making and contribute to community activities, leading to improved productivity and better outcomes for households.

The insights from the PPRC consultation prompted me to dig deeper into the gendered dynamics of agriculture. The challenges that women face are not due to inefficiency, but stem from inequitable access to resources such as family labour, high-yield crops, fertilisers, and technology. Closing these gaps would significantly boost agricultural productivity while empowering women.

Globally, women represent 43 percent of the agricultural labour force, yet they face systemic barriers that limit their contributions. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) underscores this disparity, reporting that women fall behind men in access to land, credit, services, and digital technology. Additionally, the burden of unpaid care work constrains women's opportunities for education, training, and employment. Social norms further reinforce barriers to resources and networks, stifling women's potential contributions to the agrifood sector.

Recognising the contributions of women in agriculture is crucial for achieving economic empowerment, strengthening food security, and improving nutrition outcomes. Policies that validate women's labour and ensure equitable access to resources have the power to transform agricultural systems. Empowering women in this sector is not merely a step towards achieving gender justice; it is a cornerstone of sustainable growth and long-term development.

The woman farmer from Bogura represents countless others whose voices remain unheard. Introducing initiatives such as farmer cards to formally recognise women as farmers is an essential first step. This recognition would open doors to critical resources like loans, high-quality inputs, and other agricultural benefits, enabling women to enhance their livelihoods and contribute more effectively to the country's agricultural economy.

However, recognition alone is not enough. Policies must dismantle systemic barriers that have long marginalised women, including wage disparities, insecure land rights, and restricted access to markets. Addressing these inequalities will not only bridge the gender gap but also unleash the untapped potential of women farmers, driving agricultural innovation and growth. Donor-funded initiatives that support agricultural development, microfinance, and innovative startups often incorporate gender and social inclusion principles as core components. While these efforts contribute significantly to reducing disparities, they address only part of the challenge. A more transformative impact requires a stronger focus on policy reforms and systemic changes to ensure long-term equity and inclusivity. Women farmers are not merely participants in agriculture—they are vital to its future. No farmer should remain invisible, especially not the women whose labour sustains our food systems and fuels the hope for a more equitable and prosperous agricultural sector.

Mahjabin Rashid Lamisha is research assistant at Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC).​

 

[Saif]

Farmers, consumers suffer for supply chain manipulation

THE growth in the agricultural sector has hardly benefited farmers and consumers. Because, farmers are denied fair prices for their produce and consumers need to pay exorbitant prices.

www.newagebd.net

Farmers, consumers suffer for supply chain manipulation
29 December, 2024, 00:00

THE growth in the agricultural sector has hardly benefited farmers and consumers. Because, farmers are denied fair prices for their produce and consumers need to pay exorbitant prices. The situation suggests a manipulative presence of intermediaries and hoarders who influence the market in the absence of adequate government intervention and oversight. For an example, growers of winter vegetables struggle to recover even the production costs and consumers in cities pay exorbitant prices. The difference between the price at wholesale markets in outlying areas and in the city kitchen markets is huge. Winter vegetables such as cauliflower and cabbage sell for Tk 1–2 a kilogram on the wholesale market in the north while they sell for Tk 40–50 a kilogram in city markets. Many farmers are reported to have left their produce to rot in the field as collecting and bringing them to the market means an additional cost. Many farmers say that they are likely to incur losses from Tk 20,000 to Tk 50,000 for produces on a bigha.

When it is understandable that a surplus supply of items, especially perishable items, brings down prices, what is inconsistent is that such a fall in prices almost never benefits consumers. Such a trend is evident in non-perishable items, too. Rice growers, for example, are also denied a fair price for their produce and are often forced to sell the produce for prices below the production cost. Market analysts blame the failure of the authorities to control the influence of intermediaries and hoarders on the supply chain. The government also appears to have failed to intervene in the agricultural sector in the forms of scientific forecast, uninterrupted supply chain and proper distribution system. The failure has led to surplus production of many crops and an unstable market, depriving farmers of fair prices. A manipulated supply chain leads, as an Agricultural Research Institute report says, to a waste of roughly a fourth of many perishable crops. The consumers also remain hostage to the routine manipulation of prices by hoarders and intermediaries. The influence of big agribusinesses is also what deprives both small farmers and consumers of fair prices as the entities, working in syndication, manipulate the market.

Small farmers are already in a precarious financial state because of the rising cost of living and many have taken out loans at a high interest rate for farm production. The authorities, therefore, need to ensure fair prices for the products and for that, they need to attend to supply and distribution chains and free them of the influence and manipulation of intermediaries and hoarders. The authorities should also come up with a better production forecast and inform farmers accordingly.​

 

[Saif]

Putting farmers' lives on the line

The news that 60 per cent of the country's cancer patients are farmers is highly concerning. Then why do the overwhelming majority of cancer patients come from the farming community? To go by the disclosure Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter made at a national dialogue, this is so "becau

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Putting farmers' lives on the line
FE
Published :
Jan 01, 2025 21:26
Updated :
Jan 01, 2025 21:26

The news that 60 per cent of the country's cancer patients are farmers is highly concerning. Then why do the overwhelming majority of cancer patients come from the farming community? To go by the disclosure Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter made at a national dialogue, this is so "because of their prolonged exposure to pesticides". Farmers do not take adequate precaution before mixing and spraying the pest-killing chemical substances on crops. They mishandle the poisonous chemicals with carcinogenic properties. What it tells about the agricultural practices in this country is, therefore, pathetic. Little educated or not at all educated, farmers who work their lands are mostly unaware of the danger of the exposure to pesticide and it is obvious the field-level agriculture officers have failed to inform farmers of the risk they run or if informed, could not convince the former.

Organised by the Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Workers Federation, the dialogue titled "Inclusive Labour Laws with International Standard and Legal Recognition of Workers in Agriculture and Informal Economic Sectors", focuses on a highly important but neglected issue. Although the title conveys the intended meaning, it would be correct to write 'Inclusive Labour Laws of international Standard'. The idea is to raise the country's labour laws to the globally accepted level and bringing the informal sector including agriculture under legal coverage. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics' latest estimate, 45.4 per cent of the country's total workforce is employed in agriculture but these workers do not have official recognition as such and fail to enjoy any benefit like their industrial counterparts. This is one of the reasons behind marginalisation of landless peasants and their migration to urban centres for livelihoods. That there is, of late, a shortage of agricultural labourers during sowing of seeds, planting and harvesting owes to the exodus of labour hands from villages to cities.

Agricultural labourers, unlike farm workers in developed economies, receive no training for their adaptation to new technology and application of inputs including chemical fertilisers and pesticides. There is no official campaign for putting on protective gears before handling and spraying pesticides in the crop field. The hired labourers certainly cannot afford such gears but if it was made mandatory for landowners to provide for such gears, the poor farmers did not have to suffer a dreaded disease like cancer due to exposure to the hazardous substances. When a person feels no hesitation to manually spray pesticides from a canister without using even a mask, it speaks volumes for the general ignorance and also indifference to workers' health and well-being.

Such callousness is unacceptable. Here the victims are the poorest people of society who have no means to afford costs of medical treatment of any serious disease, let alone cancer. Had there been formal recognition of their labour and their works involving in particular the application of harmful agents such as chemical fertilisers and pesticides, the poor peasants would not be exposed to those substances. Their chances of getting cancer from such exposure would be minimised. Again, legal coverage such as group life insurance can be introduced for meeting their medical expenses. If farmers became so aware of the danger, they could easily be convinced of the merit of using right doses of fertilisers and pesticides and also of the time gap so essential for harvesting crops. Thus the presence of fertiliser and pesticide residues in the food chain could be avoided to largely ensure food safety.​

 

[Saif]

Maximising benefits of agricultural production

The importance of food preservation is next to production of food. Preservation helps build a buffer stock of food and ensures price stabilisation through steady supply of the items round the year. Food preservation enables an individual, a community or a nation to remain in a safe zone even in lea

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Maximising benefits of agricultural production
Sarker Nazrul Islam
Published :
Jan 03, 2025 20:47
Updated :
Jan 03, 2025 20:47

The importance of food preservation is next to production of food. Preservation helps build a buffer stock of food and ensures price stabilisation through steady supply of the items round the year. Food preservation enables an individual, a community or a nation to remain in a safe zone even in lean periods. It is because of this that human beings throughout ages have saved a part of the surplus food to meet emergency need and ensure food security.

It is in line with this that Bangladesh, like every other nation, has always tried to preserve a part of the food grains especially rice it produced. But during the period since independence, the country produced only a part of the food grains it needed to feed the burgeoning population. Requisite quantities of rice and wheat had to be imported every year to meet the shortfall.

During that period, the country had limited storage facilities. This reality quite often led to short supply of the food items to the market, as a result people suffered immeasurably, particularly during the 1974 famine. It is believed that thousands of people died simply for short supply of food on the one hand and lack of access to food for a large segment of the population on the other. Post-independence governments could not yet prepare exact lists of Freedom Fighters, Rajakars and the martyred intellectuals, let alone make the list of the dead during '74 famine.

The food security situation during the '74 famine becomes evident from the fact that rice price suddenly jumped to Tk10 per kilogram when a day labourer could earn only TK1.0 or Tk1.50 a day. The famine more than anything else demonstrated what can happen when a country does not have a minimum stock of food. This signifies the importance of food preservation.

Potato was the third item after rice and wheat that was preserved in cold storages. Today Bangladesh produces slightly more than11 million tonnes of potato against the annual demand for 7.5-8.0 million, as the agriculture ministry estimates. However, Bangladesh Cold Storage Association disagrees with the ministry's claim. According to it, the total production did not exceed 8.5 million tonnes. Whatever be the exact volume, the storage facility for potato is just 3.0 million tonnes now, which is far less than necessary. A huge quantity of this starchy vegetable is wasted annually for lack of adequate storage facilities.

Despite near-sufficiency in production, potato market has remained volatile. Last year potato was selling in the market at a record price of Tk75-85 per kg. In the face of prolonged market volatility, the agriculture ministry has almost doubled the allocation for potato preservation facility in the current fiscal year --- from Tk71.4 million to Tk137.2 million, The Financial Express reports. Under the project 450 model houses would be built in 17 districts. These houses will preserve 1.0m tonnes of potato. It is a good initiative but far from enough. Storage facilities for potato will have to be increased manifold. If cold storages are established in adequate number, those will reduce potato wastage by a big margin, make it available round the year and stabilise the price situation.

However, potato is not the only item wasted for insufficient preservation facilities. Production of horticultural items like fruits and vegetables has also increased manifold over the years though production of those, particularly fruit, is still far behind the demand. According to the Department of Agricultural Marketing, Bangladesh produced 1.84 crore tonnes of vegetables and 1.24 crore tonnes of fruits in the fiscal year 2019-20. The present volume is supposed to be a bit larger. Because of seasonal nature, the above crops are available in abundant quantity during the harvesting period but huge quantities of them is wasted annually for lack of suitable preservation facilities. According to another contemporary, one-third of the country's horticultural produce like fruits and vegetables go to waste due to lack of post-harvest management such as proper system of transportation and scarcity of storage and preservation facilities. Cold storages used for potato preservation are not fit for storing fruits and vegetables. Wastage is the prime reason behind increased price of such perishable items. In such a situation, the Department of Agricultural Marketing is reported to have taken an initiative to set up 25 specialised cold storages with a combined capacity of storing 3,000 tonnes of vegetables or fruits. Evidently, this storage capacity is nowhere near the requirement.

To meet the shortfall, Bangladesh has to import a large volume of fruits round the year. Fruit import surges before and during the month of Ramadan. According to sources, Bangladesh spent roughly US$450 million in 2021-22 to procure those. It is likely to be more now. If adequate storage facility for fruit and vegetables is built up, supply situation during the lean period will improve and help stabilise the price level.

Bangladesh is an agricultural country with a large percentage of population engaged in cultivation. The country has given emphasis on increasing crop production through intensive research, introduction of high yielding varieties and mechanisation of agriculture. Crop production has also increased as a result. But due importance was not given to investment and development of food processing industry. This subsector accounts for about 8.0 per cent manufacturing output and contributes less than 2.0 per cent to the GDP. Because of lack of preservation facility a huge quantity of fruits like mango, jackfruit, guava and pineapple is wasted during the harvesting period. Due emphasis should be given to increasing storage capacity and development of agro-processing industry to maximise the benefits of increased agricultural production.

​

 

[Saif]

Price hike of rice in peak harvesting season

A fresh spurt in rice price right in the peak harvesting time is unexpected but not ruled out altogether. It may happen if the harvest is very poor and there is no arrangement for supplementing the anticipated shortfall of the staple cereal. But as many as 277 private importers have been given perm

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Price hike of rice in peak harvesting season
Neil Ray
Published :
Jan 05, 2025 22:06
Updated :
Jan 05, 2025 22:06

A fresh spurt in rice price right in the peak harvesting time is unexpected but not ruled out altogether. It may happen if the harvest is very poor and there is no arrangement for supplementing the anticipated shortfall of the staple cereal. But as many as 277 private importers have been given permission to import 1.481 million tonnes of rice. According to another report, private importers have taken permission for importing 1.6 million tonnes of rice from India. As part of an effort to arrest the price hike of the staple, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) also withdrew import duties and regulatory taxes on import of rice. Accordingly, the import started on November 13 with 27,000 tonnes of rice arriving at Chittagong Port in the first consignment. Truck-loads of rice started arriving in the country from November 17.

Notwithstanding the government's sincere efforts, price hike could not be contained either in the pre-harvest or at this peak harvesting time. This defies logic. The duty waiver was not granted for the importers and rice traders to benefit from. It was done to give some relief to the consumers. But the traders and importers have, as always, their excuses to dictate terms and raise prices. This time they say that rice price is higher in India and they had to import rice at higher prices. How much higher that is? Another report carried in a Bangla contemporary has it that the imported rice through Benapole port was priced at $410 per tonne. The import cost for a kilogram of rice thus comes to Tk 50-51. Understandably, this variety is coarse. The price of which was in the range of Tk55-58 has now shot up to Tk60-62. The medium quality and finer varieties have registered price escalation by Tk5.0-6.0 and Tk6.0-8.0 respectively.

The question is, why should the duty waiver not have any reflection on the staple's price? If the duty waiver has the opposite effect on the price trend, it means the importers and traders want to have their cake and eat it too. They have their intrigues to do so. When the rice market was jittery during the pre-harvest period, the importers deliberately delayed import of the cereal. Now another dimension has been added to the ploy. Anticipating rice shortfall in the lean season, millers and stockists are in an intense competition to raise their stocks. So, at least farmers growing rice are getting a good price. This time they are doubly happy because following the floods, the weather was good for the planted Aman crop and also pest attack was hardly reported. Thus the increased acreage of Aman cultivation and good harvest together have favoured cultivators of Aman paddy.

It is against this background, importers and stockists and millers are trying to build stocks of their own in the hope that they can take full advantage of the market by taking control of the supply chain. Of course, they will do so collectively but right now they are competitors because the bigger the stock is, the greater the profit. In fact, those involved in trade syndicates are a species lacking in responsibility and any consideration for the country and their compatriots. Their only concern is for profit at its maximum. They have been practising such outrageous manipulation and manoeuvring for long and will not give up unless they are forced to.

The only way is to bring their letters of credit (LC) and other related documents under closer scrutiny and compare the stated prices with the export price of the source country. India is not a distant country and international prices set for export is no secret. So it would be in the fitness of thing to do this leg work by the food ministry and other authorities concerned. Importers must be made to readjust the runaway prices on the basis of importing cost in order to restrain them from reaping outrageous profits.​

 

[Saif]

Tk 9,391cr in farm loans disbursed in 4 months

Banks disbursed Tk 9,391 crore in agricultural loans in July-October of the 2024-25 financial year, which accounts for 24.71 per cent of the total disbursement target for FY25, according to Bangladesh Bank data...

www.newagebd.net

Tk 9,391cr in farm loans disbursed in 4 months
Staff Correspondent 07 January, 2025, 22:49

Focus bangla file photo

Banks disbursed Tk 9,391 crore in agricultural loans in July-October of the 2024-25 financial year, which accounts for 24.71 per cent of the total disbursement target for FY25, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

The recovery amount of agricultural loans reached Tk 28,949 crore in the 4 months of FY24, which was 14.9 per cent higher than that of the same period of the preceding year.

The disbursement target for agricultural credit in FY25 was Tk 38,000 crore, an increase of 8.75 per cent from the previous financial year’s target of Tk 35,000 crore.

The outstanding balance, including interest, stood at Tk 55,084 crore in July-October, marking a 0.4-per cent increase from the previous financial year.

Overdue of agricultural credit stood at Tk 11,931 crore at the end of October 2024, which is 40 per cent higher than the overdue of Tk 8521 crore at the end of October 2023.

With the increased demand for farm loans, the BB set the target for state-owned commercial and specialised banks at Tk 12,615 crore and for private and foreign banks at Tk 25,385 crore, the officials said.

Additionally, 60 per cent of the total target must be allocated to crops and grains, 13 per cent to fisheries and 15 per cent to livestock.

The central bank set the farm loan release target to increase agricultural production to control inflationary pressures and achieve gross domestic product growth target.

More than 40 per cent of the country’s workforce is directly employed in the agriculture sector.

Farm loans enable farmers to invest in inputs like seeds, fertilisers and machinery, leading to increased productivity and economic growth.

Farm loans also contribute to rural development by providing income opportunities and improving infrastructure in rural areas.

On May 22, 2022, the central bank instructed the country’s banks to disburse agricultural credit at a concessional interest rate of 4 per cent for cultivating import substitute crops, including pulses, oilseeds, spices and maize.

In FY23, farmers received Tk 32,829 crore in loans and repaid Tk 33,010 crore.

Most of these loans were channelled through NGOs, which charge interest rates ranging from 24 to 30 per cent.

To address the challenge of reaching remote areas, banks allocated loan amounts to NGOs.

To encourage direct lending to farmers, the Bangladesh Bank has instructed banks to disburse a minimum of 50 per cent of their total disbursements through their own channels.

Banks disbursed Tk 37,154 crore in agricultural and rural loans in the past financial year, surpassing the target of Tk 35,000 crore by 106.15 per cent compared with Tk 32,830 crore disbursed in the previous financial year.​

 

[Saif]

Don’t transplant Boro seedlings during cold spell: DAE

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has advised farmers not to transplant seedlings of Boro paddy during the cold spell.

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Don’t transplant Boro seedlings during cold spell: DAE

The ongoing cold wave may affect the cultivation of dry-season Boro rice and increase the risk of pest attacks on potato and mustard fields. The photo was taken from Aditmari upazila in Lalmonirhat yesterday. Photo: S DILIP ROY

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has advised farmers not to transplant seedlings of Boro paddy during the cold spell.

The advisory comes as the country is likely to see a cold wave from today, affecting the cultivation of the dry-season rice Boro and increasing the risk of pest attacks on potatoes and mustard in the fields.

The weather office earlier this month forecast a cold spell for a couple of days.

The DAE targets to ensure the cultivation of the dry-season variety of the food staple on 50.69 lakh hectares so that 2.26 crore tonnes of rice can be produced in the current fiscal year, said Sarker Shafi Uddin Ahmed, director-in-charge of the Field Service Wing of the DAE.

Boro production rose by 1.45 percent year-on-year to 2.10 crore tonnes in fiscal year 2023-24.

The dry-season Boro, which accounts for roughly 55 percent of total annual rice production, is cultivated between December and January and harvested mainly in May.

In its advisory, the Bangladesh Agro-Meteorological Information Service (BAMIS), a project under the DAE, suggested that farmers use transparent polythene to cover the seedlings for protection from fog if sunlight is visible during the day.

Besides, water should be removed from the fields every morning during the cold spell. BAMIS advises using tube-well water in a way that keeps the seedlings above the water level.

The DAE said that seedlings may suffer from blight diseases -- a bacterial disease that can severely damage crops.

It suggests using fungicide and spraying to control the disease.

The agency said that unfavourable weather may also cause pest attacks on potatoes, one of the most widely consumed vegetables, and mustard, the main oilseed crop in Bangladesh.

In its weather forecast yesterday, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said that weather across the country is likely to remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy skies.

It said that moderate to dense fog may occur across the country from midnight to morning and may continue until tomorrow.​

 

[Saif]

Farm exports this FY promise billion-dollar earnings again

Bangladesh's agricultural-product export in the first half of this fiscal rebounded and showed hope of crossing a billion-dollar turnover in the terminal months of the year, insiders said Friday. After a falling trend over the last couple of years, the shipment of the country's homegrown agr

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Farm exports this FY promise billion-dollar earnings again
FHM HUAMAYN KABIR
Published :
Jan 11, 2025 00:18
Updated :
Jan 11, 2025 00:18

Bangladesh's agricultural-product export in the first half of this fiscal rebounded and showed hope of crossing a billion-dollar turnover in the terminal months of the year, insiders said Friday.

After a falling trend over the last couple of years, the shipment of the country's homegrown agricultural produce showed a stunning performance during July-December period of the current FY2025, an FE analysis has found.

During the H1 this fiscal, the export of the agricultural produce like vegetables, fruits, tea, spices and tobacco recorded a 9.31-percent growth over the corresponding period of last FY2024, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data showed.

Bangladeshi entrepreneurs had made shipments worth US$595.51 million during H1. In the same period (July-Dec) last FY2024, the shipment volume was worth $544.77 million, the data showed.

Fruits, tea, spices, tobacco, and animal and vegetable fats dominated the earnings from agricultural exports, according to the export analysis.

Farmers, entrepreneurs, exporters, analysts and policymakers find a bright future for the country's agro-products to grab a substantial share in $1.90-trillion global market.

In 2022, the global value of agricultural exports (excluding fish) was $1,903 billion. This was a 2.9-fold increase from 2005, United Nation's FAO report showed.

The United States is the largest exporters of farm and food products to the world, totaled nearly $175 billion, although its growth was down to 11 per cent from the 2022 record, USFDA report says.

After entering into the billion-dollar-export-earners club for the first time in Bangladesh's history during the FY2021 and FY2022, the agricultural produce shipments found a fall in the FY2023 and FY2024.

During FY2021 and FY2022, the export earnings from the agricultural goods and relevant processed foods were $1.028 billion and $1.162 billion respectively, EPB statistics showed.

In the subsequent FY2023 and FY2024, the earnings had fallen below the billion-dollar mark with earnings of $ 834.03 million and $964.34 million respectively, the official statistics showed.

The export earnings in the H1 of this FY2025 showed a bright light again as it had already fetched a $595.51 million worth of income.

Market-insiders say the earnings from Bangladesh's agricultural produce and processed foods, the highest value-added items, are likely to get back in the billion-dollar trajectory again in the current fiscal.

They say the reentry of agricultural produce exports into the billion-dollar-earner club "has lit up a new hope for the country's much-needed export-basket diversification", away from overdependence on readymade garments.

The apparel sector has been single-largest export earner for Bangladesh for more than three decades, contributing around 80 per cent to the aggregate export earnings.

It's good news for the country that its businessmen are trying to diversify their exportable products in overseas markets, cutting dependence on the single-largest export item-RMG-the analysts say.

According to the EPB, although the export of vegetables and some other key items dropped in H1 this fiscal, the ago-produce like dry food ($110.93 million), tobacco ($178.47 million), spices ($29.82 million), animal or vegetable fats and oils ($96.17 million), and beverages, spirits and vinegar ($15.43 million) performed well on the export market last year.

Khurshid Ahmad Farhad, General Manager of Bombay Sweets & Company Ltd, says agro-product exports will be growing in the future days as Bangladesh's many medium to big companies are now trying to expand their market overseas, with agro-processing industries flourishing and holding high prospects.

Mr Farhad has outlined two main reasons for expanding the Bangladesh export market in the global chain-firstly, the big conglomerate has aggressively trying to attract their products in the overseas markets and, secondly, there are increasing numbers of Bangladeshi Diaspora in different countries across the globe.

The big companies are trying to improve the quality of production and grab the overseas markets which helping to expand the merchandise shipment, he added.

"Our company is also expanding its capacity and diversifying the products eying foreign alongside its local markets. We are hopeful of getting a big boost in the export volume within next couple of years," Mr Farhad says.

Bangladesh's Pran-RFL Group, Square Group, Olympic, Bombay Sweets, Acme, and Akij Group are in the race of agricultural-product export.

The largest ago-processing-product exporter --PRAN-RFL Group--has already announced that it would double its export earnings to $1.0 billion within this calendar year 2025.

It also plans to reach $2.0-billion-export-earning benchmark by 2030 - based on its diversified range of products and markets.

The conglomerate's export that started in 1997 by sending pineapples to France stood at $532 million in last FY2021-22, the company claims.

Chairman of RAPID Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque says Bangladesh has huge potential in agro-and agro-product export market in the global arena.

"If the manufacturers improve their quality with international certification and target the overseas people globally instead of the Bangladeshi diasporas only, the export will automatically rise," he told the FE.

"Even Bangladeshis entrepreneurs can go for contract farming in foreign countries which would facilitate expanding the agro-base product shipments and earnings," Dr Razzaque said.

Research Director for the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr KG Moazzem hails the rebound as good news that Bangladesh has found billion-dollar-export-earning products in its foreign-trade basket.

"We were not getting billion-dollar export products for long years. Now the agro-products had touched the point and it's maintaining a steady growth. It's really stunning news for Bangladesh," the economist says.

Dr Moazzem cites another piece of good news that some Bangladeshi-made products are getting promotion as good brand on the overseas market. "It will facilitate the country to export in the future days, too."

The local companies should now enhance their capacities to expand their export market in the US and EU nations through ensuring their standards and certification, the CPD research director suggests.

Higher volume of the Bangladeshi agro-products goes to the middle-eastern markets alongside some Asian, African and South-Asian countries.​

 

[Saif]

Sugarcane farmers gets timely payment through bKash

Sugarcane farmers associated with the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) are now receiving payments for sugarcane sales on time, directly into their bKash accounts.

www.newagebd.net

Sugarcane farmers gets timely payment through bKash
BSS 12 January, 2025, 00:44

Sugarcane farmers associated with the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) are now receiving payments for sugarcane sales on time, directly into their bKash accounts.

This digital payment mechanism ensures hassle-free and accurate transfers, thereby fostering increased farmer engagement in sugarcane cultivation.

In the current fiscal year 2024-25, a significant surge in farmers’ participation has been observed, with an additional 15,000 farmers joining the programme, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to over 50,000, said a press release.

The integration of bKash payments has accelerated the overall sugarcane procurement process and increased the targets of sugar mills.

Previously, farmers were losing interest in sugarcane cultivation due to various issues, including irregular payments for sugarcane sales.

To overcome this situation, in the fiscal year 2023-24, bKash signed an agreement with BSFIC to disburse payments for farmers’ sugarcane sales directly to their bKash accounts.

This has enabled farmers to receive the fair price of sugarcane on time. The service also saves time, enabling farmers to focus on producing other crops alongside sugarcane.

According to sugar mill authorities, farmers’ interest in sugarcane cultivation has increased due to quick payment through bKash and technological support.

As a result, sugar mill authorities target 26 per cent more payment through bKash in the current fiscal year compared to the previous year.

Significantly, sugarcane farmers associated with BSFIC experienced expedited and direct payment disbursement to their bKash accounts during the previous fiscal year.

This facilitated the swift delivery of fair prices for their sugarcane sales.

Moreover, farmers can conveniently cash out their payments from nearby agent points without any charges.

Complementing this, bKash has actively organised numerous training sessions and seminars to raise farmers’ awareness on digital payments and financial transactions.

This concerted effort has fostered greater speed, transparency, and security within the entire sugarcane procurement and payment process.

Furthermore, it has significantly strengthened the bond between sugarcane farmers and the corporation.​

 

[Saif]

Bumper harvest, but farmers face loss

A video clip of aggrieved farmers destroying their cauliflower in the field as they fail to recover even the basic costs of production is doing the rounds on social media. Mainstream media is also abuzz with stories of farmers not harvesting some of their winter crops due to a lack of fair

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bumper harvest, but farmers face loss
Atiqul Kabir Tuhin

Published :
Jan 12, 2025 00:16
Updated :
Jan 12, 2025 00:16

A video clip of aggrieved farmers destroying their cauliflower in the field as they fail to recover even the basic costs of production is doing the rounds on social media. Mainstream media is also abuzz with stories of farmers not harvesting some of their winter crops due to a lack of fair prices, with some even resorting to feeding their produce to livestock. Last week, farmers also staged rallies in different parts of the country including Pabna and Meherpur, demanding fair prices for their crops. Moreover, they are reportedly planning to organise a protest in Dhaka to draw the government's attention to their massive losses despite a bumper production of winter vegetables.

Added to the farmers' woe is the exploitation by middlemen and ransom seekers. While consumers in Dhaka are paying Tk 15-20 for a single cauliflower, farmers are receiving a fraction of this price. In major agricultural production hubs in northern districts, each kilogram of cauliflower is reportedly being sold wholesale for a mere Tk 1-2, far below the production cost of Tk 5-6 per kilogram. Is this the reward for their hard work and investment?

This situation underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive farmer protection programme to safeguard farmers' interests. A significant portion of farmers' woes stems from the lack of storage facilities and efficient distribution systems. Notably, Bangladesh's current storage facilities are built with a focus on rice and potatoes, leaving limited space for perishable goods such as vegetables, fish, and milk. Farmers face substantial losses, particularly during peak seasons. According to an estimate, about 30 per cent of Bangladesh's fresh produce is lost annually due to inadequate storage facilities. Fruits, vegetables, onions, milk, fish, etc. often perish at various stages of the post-harvest supply chain, resulting in millions of tonnes of food loss each year.

Several policy interventions could alleviate these challenges. First of all, the government can think of introducing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for main verities of crops each season. MSP is the minimum price paid by the government when it procures any crop from the farmers to protect them from price fluctuations. MSP is set considering production costs, market demand, and other economic factors. Successful implementation of an MSP can ensure financial security for farmers and shield them from losses during market downturns.

To effectively implement the MSP mechanism, agricultural collection centres, along with specialised cold storage facilities, should be established at the upazila level or near major production hubs. These centres will collect surplus crops from farmers based on the MSP or prevailing market rates. Collected produce can then be supplied to other areas, stored in cold storage facilities, or exported. Establishment of such centres will help reduce the influence of middlemen.

The authorities should also incentivise private-sector investment in food processing. Processing centres can further address price drops due to oversupply by converting excess produce into value-added products. For instance, surplus tomatoes can be processed into sauces or purées for domestic and export markets. Supporting young entrepreneurs in agro-processing through training and incentives can make this initiative more dynamic.

Bangladesh's agricultural sector holds immense potential, but systemic challenges, including price exploitation and post-harvest losses, continue to burden farmers. Addressing these issues through well-designed policies, and efficient storage and transport facilities can transform agriculture into a sustainable and profitable venture.​

 

[Saif]

Unlocking farm export potential

It is good news that earnings from the export of agro-products -- primary and processed --increased to $595.51 million in the first half of FY2025 from $544.77 million in the corresponding period of FY2024. If the current momentum is sustained in the second half of FY2025, export receipt from this

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Unlocking farm export potential
FE
Published :
Jan 12, 2025 21:06
Updated :
Jan 12, 2025 21:06

It is good news that earnings from the export of agro-products -- primary and processed --increased to $595.51 million in the first half of FY2025 from $544.77 million in the corresponding period of FY2024. If the current momentum is sustained in the second half of FY2025, export receipt from this sector will once again surpass the billion-dollar threshold. This promising development underscores the sector's potential to diversify Bangladesh's export portfolio, which is a must as the country prepares for graduation from the United Nations' Least Developed Country (LDC) category in 2026. The global agricultural export market is valued at $1.90 trillion. It presents vast opportunities for Bangladesh, predominantly an agrarian economy with 45.4 per cent of its workforce engaged in agriculture, to tap into the opportunities of the global agro-market.

The agricultural sector achieved outstanding successes over the years in terms of research and development of new strains of crops, crop diversification and a near self-sufficiency in food production. These achievements of the sector not only contributed to the relative economic stability of the country but also to an increased calorie intake of the people and poverty reduction. It has also led to the growth of a vibrant agro-processing industry. Therefore, credit for increased earnings from agro-export goes to farmers, agro-scientists, and entrepreneurs in processed food industries. Now, with proper planning and policy support, greater adoption of mechanised farming and capacity building for cold storage to reduce post-harvest losses, Bangladesh can make further inroads into the global agricultural market.

One of the key barriers to boosting Bangladesh's agricultural exports is the challenge of meeting stringent international quality standards. While the country exports primarily to the Middle East, Gulf countries, and the UK, significant opportunities remain untapped in markets such as the EU, Japan, and the United States. These markets demand high levels of quality and safety, placing a premium on compliance with stringent international standards. Past instances have shown that the presence of harmful chemicals and pesticides in Bangladeshi agricultural products can lead to trade restrictions and market access barriers. To overcome these challenges, a concerted effort is required to enhance good agricultural practices and strengthen quality control mechanisms. The Bangladesh Accreditation Board must play a pivotal role to ensure that agricultural products meet international standards. Regrettably, Bangladesh lacks the necessary laboratories to issue certificates after thorough quality testing, forcing many exporters to rely on expensive and time-consuming foreign certifications. Investments in advanced testing laboratories are, therefore, crucial to obtaining necessary certifications for entry into highly coveted markets like the EU and the US. Furthermore, promoting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) among farmers is essential to improve product quality and enhance food safety.

Finally, the establishment of modern packaging and processing facilities, along with strengthening the cold chain and improving post-harvest handling practices, are equally important to minimise product loss and maintain quality. Delays at airports caused by inadequate scanners and inefficient transportation processes for agricultural products, coupled with insufficient storage facilities, pose significant challenges to exporters. To address these issues, dedicated gates and scanner machines should be established at airports specifically for agricultural exporters. This will ensure timely and efficient delivery of high-quality products to international markets. An increase in agricultural exports will not only benefit farmers in terms of better returns but also significantly boost the national economy.​

 

[Saif]

Foreign fruits turn costlier for duty hike

Recent supplementary duty (SD) hikes on the import of fruits have dealt a fresh blow to people who were already cutting back on these delicacies since the imposition of regulatory duties in mid-2022..On January 9, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) increased the supplementary duty on the

www.thedailystar.net

Foreign fruits turn costlier for duty hike

Customers complain that retailers are now charging Tk 20 to Tk 30 more for each kilogramme of apples, oranges, grapes, sweet oranges and watermelons, forcing them to reduce purchases amid persistently high inflation for nearly two years. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Recent supplementary duty (SD) hikes on the import of fruits have dealt a fresh blow to people who were already cutting back on these delicacies since the imposition of regulatory duties in mid-2022.

On January 9, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) increased the supplementary duty on the import of certain dry and fresh fruits, such as nuts and betel nuts, to 45 percent from the previous 30 percent.

The duty on some fresh fruits, such as grapes, apples, and watermelons, as well as on juices, was raised to 30 percent from 20 percent.

This mid-fiscal year move by the government is widely interpreted as an attempt to increase revenue collection and meet conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for its ongoing $4.7 billion loan programme for Bangladesh.

Economists and businesses have criticised the timing of the NBR's decision, as people have been struggling with inflation above 9 percent for nearly two years.

Customers report that retailers are now charging Tk 20 to Tk 30 more for each kilogramme (kg) of apples, oranges, grapes, sweet oranges, and watermelons, forcing them to reduce purchases amid persistently high inflation for nearly two years.

Naznin Akhter, a shopper at Karwan Bazar, one of Dhaka's largest kitchen markets, expressed her concern, stating that she could no longer afford foreign fruits in the volumes she used to purchase a year ago.

"Ten days ago, I bought medium-sized oranges at Tk 260 per kg, but the price has now risen to Tk 290. Similarly, apples that were Tk 290 per kg are now Tk 320," she said.

"I had planned to buy 2 kg of oranges and 2 kg of apples. However, due to the price hike, I ended up purchasing only 1.5 kg of each," she added.

Naznin urged the government to reconsider the duty hikes to ease the burden on consumers.

Fruit traders say the previous duty hikes reduced imports by roughly 30 percent, whereas the latest SD hikes have slashed wholesale sales by 20 to 25 percent.

Mohammad Sagar Mia, a shop owner at Karwan Bazar, said prices have risen by Tk 15 to Tk 20 per kg at the retail level.

"In some cases, the price of certain fruits has increased by Tk 25 per kg," he said.

Prior to January 9, he used to buy black grapes for Tk 500 per kg at wholesale, and now it costs Tk 530. Similarly, the price of small-sized pomegranates has risen from Tk 450 to Tk 480.

The price of oranges was Tk 200 to Tk 230 but has now increased to Tk 240 to Tk 260. Apples, which were Tk 280 earlier, are now Tk 300, he added.

Sagar also noted that pears, previously priced at Tk 270 to Tk 280, are now Tk 288.

Serazul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association, told The Daily Star that they sent a letter to the relevant government office a month ago requesting an exemption from regulatory duties and a reduction in advance income tax.

This request was particularly important with Ramadan, the month of fasting, due to begin in March, when believers typically incorporate different fruits into their daily diet, he said.

Islam also claimed that March was a time when the variety of local fruits available in markets was limited, although this could not be independently verified.

However, the opposite occurred, he said.

"With high inflation persisting, people have already been buying less fruit over the past two years," he added.

"The recent tax increases will further force many middle-income and lower-middle-income consumers to cut back on their fruit consumption," he said.

As a result of rising prices, wholesale fruit sales have already dropped by 20 to 25 percent over the past two to three days, Islam said.

Bangladesh's fruit imports, as reflected in the opening of letters of credit (LCs), fell by 8.5 percent year-on-year to $107 million in the July-November period of fiscal year 2024-25.

The settlement of the LCs also declined during the period, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

The Consumers Association of Bangladesh last Sunday urged the government to refrain from implementing the SD hikes until the end of Ramadan, warning that otherwise, it would worsen the financial struggles of low- and middle-income families.​

 

[Saif]

Rural women must be recognised for their contribution

Gender discrimination in rural areas across Bangladesh continues to be a formidable barrier to both social and economic development.

www.thedailystar.net

Rural women must be recognised for their contribution

Rural women are nation builders; they’re the backbone of our rural economy. File photo: SK Enamul Haq

Gender discrimination in rural areas across Bangladesh continues to be a formidable barrier to both social and economic development, particularly in the agricultural sector. Despite their critical roles in farming, processing, and post-harvest activities, rural women face entrenched inequalities in wages, opportunities, and recognition. As Shahnaz Begum, a farmer from Khulna, poignantly states, "We work just as hard as men, but the pay is never the same. While men often earn up to Tk 200 per day, women receive Tk 70 for similar work."

This wage disparity reflects a broader trend in which rural women are disproportionately affected by social, cultural, and economic inequalities. According to a 2023 report by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), gender pay gap remains a significant issue in rural areas, with women in agriculture earning an average of 30-40 percent less than their male counterparts for the same work. The report further emphasises that women in rural Bangladesh perform up to about 60 percent of the labour in agriculture, but remain largely invisible in leadership and decision-making roles.

Despite their significant contributions to the agricultural economy, rural women are often marginalised. They are excluded from access to land, credit, and technology—resources that are essential for improving productivity and achieving economic independence. According to a 2022 Oxfam study, only 13 percent of rural women in the country own land. This lack of access to land and resources limits women's ability to invest in farming and start their own businesses. "I've never been able to buy land or take a loan without my husband's signature," shares Laila, a rural entrepreneur from southwestern Bangladesh. "Without access to resources, how can we grow our businesses or improve our lives?"

Sexual harassment in rural workplaces is another pervasive issue that compounds these challenges. A 2021 study by ActionAid found that 45 percent of rural women in South Asia, including Bangladesh, experience harassment in the workplace. However, many women remain silent due to fear of retaliation and lack of support. One such case is Ayesha, a farm worker from Satkhira, who was forced to quit her job after facing harassment from her supervisor. "I couldn't keep quiet anymore, but no one supported me," she recalls. "I had no choice but to leave." This type of harassment not only undermines women's well-being, but also has long-term economic consequences, as they are forced to withdraw from the workforce.

The implications of such gender-based discrimination are far-reaching, not just for individual women but for the economy at large. According to McKinsey, closing gender gaps in labour markets could add $12 trillion to the global economy. In Bangladesh, where agriculture employs over 40 percent of the workforce, advancing gender equality in rural areas could significantly boost national productivity and reduce poverty. As Hasina, a leader of a rural women's cooperative in Satkhira, says, "If we had equal opportunities, we could improve not only our families but also our communities." Women's economic empowerment can lead to the development of rural economies, better health outcomes, and improved quality of life for all.

Addressing these inequities requires robust policy interventions. The government must prioritise wage transparency and enforce equal pay for equal work in rural sectors. Furthermore, rural women must have equal access to land, credit, technology, and training to improve their productivity and economic independence. "We need financial independence," says Rina, a small-scale farmer from Jashore. "Only then can we break the cycle of poverty." Providing women with access to microfinance and ensuring that they can take out loans without the need for male co-signers would empower them to invest in their farms or start small businesses, ultimately improving their families' living standards.

Encouraging women to take leadership roles in rural cooperatives and agricultural enterprises is another vital step in addressing gender inequality. As Salma, a rural cooperative leader, aptly puts it, "Gender equality is the foundation of a prosperous Bangladesh. We cannot afford to leave women behind." By addressing gender discrimination in rural workplaces, Bangladesh can harness the power of its women to drive sustainable economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve the quality of life for all its citizens.

Furthermore, addressing the issue of sexual harassment in rural workplaces is crucial for creating safe and supportive environments for women. The government must establish and enforce clear legal frameworks to prevent harassment, ensure women's safety, and encourage reporting of such incidents without fear of retaliation. Local authorities and rural development programmes must work closely with women's organisations to create awareness and provide support for victims of harassment.

By addressing gender discrimination, we can unlock the potential of millions of women, enabling them to contribute to a more equitable, prosperous future. Gender equality in rural Bangladesh is not merely a goal—it is a necessity for the nation's development.

Md. Al-Mamun is social scientist at BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD).​

 

[Saif]

Potato imports facilitated despite massive price fall

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has allowed the use of nine more customs stations for the import of potatoes, specifically from Nepal and Bhutan, aiming to diversify supply sources and reduce dependency on India..The nine stations include Rohonpur in Chapainawabganj, Sonahat in Kurigra

www.thedailystar.net

Potato imports facilitated despite massive price fall

Potato growers will suffer severely if the government continues to allow imports as the country saw massive production this year, farmers said. Photo: Md Quamrul Islam Rubaiyat.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has allowed the use of nine more customs stations for the import of potatoes, specifically from Nepal and Bhutan, aiming to diversify supply sources and reduce dependency on India.

The nine stations include Rohonpur in Chapainawabganj, Sonahat in Kurigram, Dhanua Kamalpur in Jamalpur, Nakugaon in Sherpur, Gobrakura and Karaitoli in Mymensingh, and Tamabil, Zakiganj, and Sheola in Sylhet.

Earlier, potato imports were allowed through four customs stations, including Benapole and Bhomra.

This facility will remain in effect till March, according to a gazette issued on Monday.

Traders had sought the initiative last December, when prices of the tuber reached a record high of Tk 80 per kilogramme amidst a usual drop in stocks ahead of the harvest season between February and April.

Now the facility will have little effect as prices have fallen by a massive margin across the country, and farmers fear massive losses amid bumper harvests.

Azizul Islam, who heads a farmers' association in Dinajpur, expressed his frustration at the NBR's move.

"Why is the government still allowing imports now, when potatoes are available at cheap rates in Bangladesh?" he asked.

Islam, who hails from Gopalganj village in Dinajpur sadar upazila, highlighted the plight of local farmers.

"There has been massive production this year, and there aren't enough buyers… If the government continues to allow imports, farmers will suffer severely," he warned.

Potatoes in Dinajpur are currently being sold at Tk 13 per kilogramme (kg) at the fields and around Tk 15 per kg at retail markets.

"If farmers are forced to accept such low rates, they won't recover even the money spent on potato seeds, let alone make a profit amidst rising labour and land costs," he said.

Islam urged the government to immediately halt potato imports and support farmers through state purchases.

"The government must prioritise farmers and take the necessary steps to safeguard their livelihoods," he stressed.

Regarding the time taken for the facility to come about, Kazi Mostafizur Rahman, an NBR member of international trade (currently in charge), said, "The NBR took the move based on businesses' demand when the prices were high."

"But we received the official request to extend new routes from businesses at the end of December. We needed 20-22 more days for processing as we had to conduct vetting on this issue," he said.

This year, acreage increased to a record high of 5.21 lakh hectares of land.

Annual demand stands at 85 lakh tonnes to 90 lakh tonnes, whereas harvests amount to around 106 lakh tonnes.

In fiscal year 2023-24, 1.5 lakh tonnes were imported from India.​

 

[Saif]

Govt exploring multiple sources for rice import

Interim government’s food adviser Ali Imam Majumder said that the government was prioritising trade over politics, welcoming imports from neighbouring countries like India, Myanmar, and Pakistan due to their proximity and lower costs...

www.newagebd.net

Govt exploring multiple sources for rice import
Staff Correspondent . Chattogram 21 January, 2025, 23:00

Interim government’s food adviser Ali Imam Majumder said that the government was prioritising trade over politics, welcoming imports from neighbouring countries like India, Myanmar, and Pakistan due to their proximity and lower costs.

He made the remarks on Tuesday while inspecting the unloading operations of imported food grains at Chattogram Port.

Earlier on the day, he visited the under-construction silo in the city’s Patenga area.

He said, ‘We have signed a contract to import 100,000 tonnes of rice from Myanmar, and they are ready to sell more. We will evaluate their internal supply situation before proceeding further. Additionally, we have arranged to import 50,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan and are exploring other sources, including Vietnam.’

On the total amount of rice being imported, Ali Imam Majumder said, ‘We aim to bring in 800,000 to 900,000 tonnes of rice. Of this, around 800,000 tons will be imported through government channels from India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and possibly Vietnam.’

When asked about the persistent high rice prices despite continuous imports, Ali Imam Majumder said, ‘The good news is that price hikes have stopped. The price of coarse rice has dropped by Tk 3-5 per kilogram. We will continue to import more, ensuring no further price increases and creating scope for price reductions.’

With Ramadan approaching and concerns over potential price hikes of food items, Ali Imam Majumder said, ‘During Ramadan, the Ministry of Food primarily oversees the supply of rice and wheat. Other items are managed by the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, under the Ministry of Commerce, which has taken extensive preparations.’

‘To support low-income groups, food-friendly programmes for 5 million people have been launched. These individuals can buy 30 kilograms of rice per month at Tk 15 per kilogram. Additionally, from this month, two metric tonnes of rice are being sold daily at the upazila level, a practice that will continue during Ramadan. We hope these measures will keep commodity prices stable.’

During the visit, Chattogram divisional commissioner Md Ziauddin, director general of food Abdul Khaleque, and Chittagong Port Authority chairman SM Moniruzzaman were also present.​

 

[Saif]

Relay cropping answer to coastal farming

The coastal region of Bangladesh makes up about one-third of the country's total land area, of which approximately 439,000 hectares (almost 1.1 million acres) remains fallow during the dry season due to increased salinity and inadequate irrigation facilities. Aman rice is the only crop cultivated t

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Relay cropping answer to coastal farming
Atiqul Kabir Tuhin
Published :
Jan 22, 2025 22:03
Updated :
Jan 22, 2025 22:03

A farmer is seen sowing wheat seeds in an Aman field as part of relay wheat cropping in Patuakhali's Kalapara upazila Photo : Collected

The coastal region of Bangladesh makes up about one-third of the country's total land area, of which approximately 439,000 hectares (almost 1.1 million acres) remains fallow during the dry season due to increased salinity and inadequate irrigation facilities. Aman rice is the only crop cultivated there during the monsoon season. After the Aman rice harvest in December, these vast tracts of land, particularly coastal regions remain fallow for 6-7 months. To bring this extensive barren land area under cultivation, Independence Award-winning agricultural researcher Dr. M. G. Neogi, in collaboration with the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), has developed a unique relay wheat cropping model that deserves policymakers' attention for wider adoption.

In conversation with this scribe, Dr. Neogi said, "It is possible to turn the single-crop land in coastal areas into double-crop or even possibly triple-crop land by using relay wheat cropping method." Dr. Neogi and his team have been working on the relay wheat cropping model in Bangladesh's coastal regions since 2017.

Relay cropping involves planting a second new crop in same land while the first crop is still in the field with its mature stage. As wheat and pulses can be grown with minimal irrigation and wheat exhibits some degree of salinity tolerance, the researchers figured out that wheat could be the ideal for relay cropping in these vast areas of fallow land. But here lies a problem.

Typically, cooler temperature, below 15°C, is ideal for wheat cultivation. Such an ideal cool weather condition for wheat crop production is available in coastal Bangladesh only during the later half of December and January. Therefore, the optimal sowing time for wheat in coastal Bangladesh is mid-November. But coastal lands remain covered by Aman paddy in November, which farmers harvest in December. To overcome this challenge, Dr. Neogi suggests sowing wheat seeds directly into the Aman paddy fields during mid-November, when paddy plants are in their matured stage. This is called relay wheat cropping model.

This method enables wheat cultivation without disturbing the standing rice crop. Moreover, this allows the wheat crop to grow during the favourable cool weather conditions of January.

Regarding potential damage to wheat seedlings during rice harvesting, Dr. Neogi said, "Farmers can harvest rice using traditional sickles without harming the wheat seedlings growing within the rice field. Typically, coastal farmers harvest rice by cutting the stalks approximately six to seven inches above the ground level, which would ensure the safety of the emerging wheat seedlings." Moreover, as he said, "Research has shown that even mechanical harvesters can be used without causing significant damage to the wheat seedlings. Observations have shown that wheat seedlings can recover quickly within two to three days after the rice harvest is completed."

Numerous farmers in Barguna and Patuakhali have successfully implemented this method, and they are pleased to have an additional profitable cash crop with minimal production costs. Relay technology significantly reduces expenses by eliminating the need for ploughing. Furthermore, wheat cultivation requires considerably less water for irrigation. With the relay cropping method, farmers can minimise water usage to just three to four light irrigations. Additionally, unseasonal rainfall between November and February, driven by climate change, further decreases irrigation needs.

Dr. Neogi's research has shown that in relay wheat planting, the cost per bigha is approximately Tk. 5,000, (Tk. 37,500/ha) yielding about 400 kg (3 t/ha) of wheat. At a market price of Tk. 40 per kg, the total income is Tk. 16,000/bigha (Tk. 120,000/ha). If relay wheat cultivation is expanded to the 439,000 hectares of fallow land of the coastal region in dry season, it could potentially yield 1.3 million tonnes of wheat, which could go a long way in fulfilling the country's growing demand for wheat.

Currently, Bangladesh requires 7.5 million tonnes of wheat annually but produces only 1.1 to 1.2 million tonnes domestically. This shortfall of 6 to 6.5 million tonnes is met through imports, resulting in a significant outflow of foreign currency. Against this backdrop, Dr. Neogi's research and practical field studies have shown that wider adaptation of relay wheat cropping can open up a vast horizon to explore the potential for cultivating wheat in coastal saline lands.

Moreover, relay wheat cropping can help mitigate rising soil salinity. The extended periods of unused coastal land contribute to increased soil salinity due to capillary action, where salt moves from deeper soil layers to the surface. Since relay cropping minimises soil exposure and reduces capillary action, it could mitigating salinity buildup. On March 6, 2024, a field study conducted by the Soil Science Department of Agricultural University, Gazipur demonstrated this effect. Soil salinity levels in a relay wheat plot were found to be significantly lower (5.48 decisiemens per metre) compared to adjacent fallow land (9.63 dS/m), indicating that relay cropping not only enhances crop yields but also improves soil quality by reducing salinity.

The reduced salinity levels resulting from relay wheat cultivation can open up the possibility of cultivating a third crop - Boro rice - after the wheat harvest. Farmers are currently exploring the cultivation of short-duration late Boro rice varieties, such as Binadhan-14, following the relay wheat harvest. Thus the successful implementation of relay wheat cropping can transform vast stretches of coastal single-crop land into a triple-crop one. This will not only benefit coastal farmers but also contribute significantly to the country's food security.

Regarding irrigation management, Dr. Neogi said, "Salinity is a significant challenge for crop cultivation during the dry season in the coastal fallow lands, along with insufficient irrigation water. Studies have shown that the water table just below the surface of these saline lands is also saline and unsuitable for irrigation. However, deeper groundwater sources, typically found at depths exceeding 1,000 feet, are generally salinity-free and suitable for both irrigation and consumption."

Submersible pumps can be used to lift water from these deeper depths. The cost of acquiring and installing a complete pump system, including the borehole and necessary fittings, is approximately 1.5 lakh taka. However, a single pump can effectively irrigate 50 bighas of land, enabling the cultivation of wheat and other Rabi crops using relay cropping techniques. Moreover, the wells will also provide access to safe drinking water for the local community throughout the year.

It is, therefore, hoped that policymakers would consider the issue and actively support the wider adoption of this cropping method by providing necessary resources, training, and incentives to farmers.​