Aman output hits record 13.023 million tonnes in FY `14

Production of Aman crop, the second-largest source of food grain in the country, made record as output reached 13.023 million tonnes in the current fiscal year (FY) 2013-'14.
Significant increase in yield per hectare helped achieve a 0.96 per cent growth in this fiscal year compared to that of FY '13, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) officials said.
BBS disclosed the final data on Aman crop yesterday (Wednesday).
Bidhan Baral, Deputy Director at BBS (Agriculture Wing) said as per the calculation by the Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO), acreage of Aman crop is 5.530 million hectares this year.
"Overall acreage has reduced, but increase in per hectare yield has helped boost the production" he said.
He said last year production was (it was also a record until this year) 12.897 million tonnes on 5.61 million hectares while per hectare yield was 2.29 tonnes.
"This year per hectare yield has increased to 2.357 tonnes thanks to cultivation of local high-yield rice varieties (HYV)", he said.
Rice, the staple crop, is cultivated in three seasons in Bangladesh: Aus, Aman and Boro. The seasons contribute 7.0 per cent, 38 per cent and 55 per cent respectively to total rice output, according to the ministry of agriculture (MoA).
A key official at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said overall rice production will increase this year significantly as Aus production also increased this year compared to that of the last year. He said Aus production increased by 7.78 per cent to 2.326 million tonnes this FY against 2.158 million tonnes in FY '13.
"Excluding Boro output, which could be availed by June, overall rice production reached 15.349 million tonnes, a 1.95 per cent increase compared to that of the corresponding period in FY '13 when output was 15.055 million tones," he said.   
He added Boro acreage has increased this year which shows that the output target of 18.9 million tonnes might easily be achieved if no natural calamity strikes.
He noted overall rice output, which witnessed a reduction last fiscal year (33.77 million tonnes) over its previous fiscal year (33.83 million tonnes), will see a revival this year.
However, according to officials at DAE and Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), use of locally-developed high-yield rice varieties and favourable weather helped in the robust Aman and Aus production.
BR-11, Brri dhan-34, 37 and 38, Najirshail, Binashail varieties showed a good yield, they said.
Meanwhile, farmers, their representatives, and experts urged the government to impose an import ban on rice as harvest of Boro crop would start in the country from next month. Farm economist ASM Golam Hafiz Kennedy said to safeguard the farmers, the government should impose import ban on rice for the next three and half months.
"During the period, the farmers could be able to harvest and market their product at profitable price," he said.   
According to the Directorate General of Food (DGoF), the country's rice demand stands at 31.0 million tonnes.
Overall rice production was 33.77 million tonnes in FY '13, and the target for the current financial year has been set at 34.5 million tonnes