Bumper crops yield eyed despite Covid-19
US Department of Agriculture says rice production is expected to rise to 36.3 million tonnes in Bangladesh
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects that Bangladesh will see bumper production of rice, wheat and corn even during the crucial period of coronavirus.
It has made the observation at a report titled "Global Agricultural Information Network" published on April 19.
Rice production for the 2020-21 marketing year is expected to rise to 36.3 million tonnes in Bangladesh as further cultivation of hybrid and high yield variety plantings increase, it says.
But sources at the agriculture ministry said this time rice production would increase to 37.5 million tonnes.
The USDA report says the country is expected to import 200,000 tonnes of rice in the 2020-21 marketing year to ease food security tensions brought on by the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Md Nasiruzzaman, secretary to the agriculture ministry, told The Business Standard, "Our rice production will be at least 10 lakh tonnes more than the USDAprediction."
"Import will not be needed if we get our expected production," he added.
Bangladesh's wheat production for the marketing year 2020-21 is also projected to increase.
"It is forecast at 1.25 million tonnes, primarily reflecting decreased concern over the wheat blast and strengthening domestic prices," the USDA report says.
Wheat imports also are being spurred over food insecurities caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. The 2020-21 marketing year wheat imports are forecast up to 6.4 million tonnes.
Unlike rice and wheat, Bangladesh's corn imports are expected to decrease as increased domestic production is expected along with lower demand from the feed sector, the report adds.
The country's livestock and poultry sector are slowing production due to the coronavirus causing the less demand for feed. The USDA lowered Bangladesh's 2020-21 marketing year imports to 1 million tonnes.
The country is seeing a higher corn output as some producers are looking to grow higher margin crops and hoping to achieve higher profit margins. The USDA forecasts about 5.1 million tonnes of corn to be produced in Bangladesh for the 2020-21 marketing year.
Agriculture economist Dr Jahangir Alam has told The Business Standard that this year's boro production is satisfactory. "We will not face a shortage of rice if there is no natural disaster."
"Import of wheat and corn is normal now as the production was better this year too. On the other hand, the demand of wheat and corn has decreased due to shrink in the poultry business," he adds.