Aman output to drop 1.53m tonnes this yr

A state research institute---the BRRI--- estimates that the production of Aman rice this year will be 1.53 million tonnes less than that of the previous season due to consecutive spells of flooding in 35 districts during the June-October period.
The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) released the study report on Tuesday, which said the rice yields might witness a 10.06 per cent fall, compared to the last year when the output was all-time high of 15.3 million tonnes.
The government needs to import an additional 1.0 million tonnes of rice by June next, suggest the food ministry data.
However, despite the decline in production, the country might see a surplus of 3.0 million tonnes of rice after meeting the demand, said the study titled 'Effects of flood and excessive rainfall on Aman production: Is food security interrupted in Bangladesh?'

The study used satellite image to collect the most authentic data on acreage and flood-affected areas.
The research was carried out in the last one month, covering 1,800 farmers, 56 upazila agricultural officers and 113 assistant agricultural officers in 14 agricultural regions.
It found that the production increased in only four regions, but the remaining ten regions saw a decline.
This year, Aman acreage was 5.78 million hectares, of which 0.6 million hectares experienced severe flooding, while 0.104 million hectares of Aman fields were totally damaged, the study said.
It estimated the average production of rice at 2.30 tonnes per hectare this year.
The study, however, maintained the fall in production would not affect the food security, as the country would have 3.0 million tonnes of surplus rice until Boro harvest in June.
The study calculated the surplus taking into account per head daily intake of 405 grams of rice by 16.7 million of people.
The BRRI also recommended boosting Boro production like in the last year to keep the country's rice stock at a comfortable level.
Meanwhile, rice prices continued to spiral in the country, with coarse rice selling at Tk 46-52 a kg and medium at Tk 55-56 a kg in the city's kitchen markets.
The prices of finer variety of rice also have skyrocketed, selling between Tk 64-72 a kg.
The recent rice prices registered a 20 to 53 per cent hike, compared to the same period a year ago, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).
The BRRI study was published at a time when the government is struggling to raise its food stock after its Aman procurement drive almost failed this year amid higher prices of the staple in the market than the government's asking price.
The public warehouses have only 0.54 million tonnes of rice now as against 0.9 million tonnes in the corresponding period of last year.
The government has taken a move to import rice from the global market to raise its stock to a comfortable level.
The government needs to import additional 1.0 million tonnes of rice by the end of June next year to keep its stock at comfortable level, officials said.
Currently, public food storage facilities have a stock of only 0.75million (752,737) tonnes of rice/wheat, according to the food ministry data.
As per the existing policy, minimum 1.0 million tonnes of food grains, rice/wheat are required by the end of the current fiscal year while the net volume of foods grains should be enhanced to over 1.5 million tonnes by the end of June2020.
Currently, the price of rice in the market is up. In this regard, the government has instructed all field level administrations to strengthen monitoring so that manipulators cannot create a volatile situation in the rice market.
The commerce ministry has asked the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection to take stringent action against traders who will sell their rice at unusual price.
Considering overall needs, the government is giving priority to import 1.0 million tonnes of rice.
The food ministry has already completed necessary deal with supplier firm to import0.1 million tonnes of rice. It expects to complete another deal to import additional 0.15 million tonnes of rice by the first week of January next.
Besides, it is supposed to hold a meeting today (Wednesday) on import of rice from India through G2G arrangement.
As of December 20, the government collected only 11,311 tonnes of rice and 257 tonnes of paddy against the target of 0.65 million tonnes of rice and 0.2 million tonnes of paddy during the current Aman season.
Despite all efforts by the government side, the millers are reluctant to sign deals with the government as market price of rice is higher than the government-set prices, a senior official of the food ministry said.
The government has completed 21.43 per cent and 28.11 per cent agreements for collecting boiled and at a price respectively against the collection target dated November 07 to December 10, 2020.
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