Aus production has remained static at 2.32 million tonnes in the current financial year (FY), 2014-15, compared to that of last FY, latest data of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) revealed.
Acreage of both Aus and Aman crops witnessed a plunge in FY 15, pointing at a static or negative trend in overall rice output in the current FY that may further increase prices of the staple food item, officials said.
Experts said squeeze in land area, caused by two spells of flood, and over emphasis on an alien rice variety - Nerica - were the key reasons behind 'the growth halt' in Aus, which contributes nearly 7 per cent to the country's total rice yield.
Considering the financial year or the Bangla calendar year, Aus is the first rice cropping season in Bangladesh. It is followed by Aman, contributing 38 per cent, and Boro, contributing 55 per cent, to overall output, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The final data of BBS and the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) revealed that in FY 15 Aus production was 2.328 million tonnes at 1.045 million hectares of land.
The volume of land has declined to 8,000 hectares this FY compared to that of FY 14, when production was 2.326 million tonnes at 1.053 million hectares, said BBS deputy director Bidhan Baral.
He said overall rice production was a record 34.35 million tonnes FY 14, which was 33.83 million tonnes in FY 13, and 33.88 million tonnes in FY 12.
A significant decline in Aus output was the key reason for the plunge in rice production in FY 13, when Aus yield was recorded at only 2.15 million tonnes, he added.
An official at DAE said in 2014 nearly 2.02 million hectares of Aman and Aus fields in 24 districts were affected by floods.
Above 152,000 hectares of Aman and Aus fields were totally destroyed by two spells of flood between August and September last, of which Aus was 7,000 hectares, he also said.
Aman and Aus fields in Bogra, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Netrakona and Sunamganj districts were severely affected.
Aman acreage reduced by nearly 0.1 million hectares in FY 15 due to the floods, he added.
Agricultural scientist Dr M A Sobhan said apart from the floods, unreasonable focusing on Nerica, an African rice variety, was also responsible for the stagnant Aus output this season.
He also said the African variety has been proved a failure in the Aus season. The government did not help the 1.4 million farmers, who incurred a huge loss because of the floods. But it declared incentives worth Tk 100 million only for the Nerica cultivators.
Following a total failure in FY 13 Aus season, the ministry withheld Nerica farming in FY 14, and Aus production jumped by nearly 8 per cent in the year.
He said Nerica or New Rice for Africa has failed in most of the countries in Africa, and it has been unsuccessful in Bangladesh also.
The country has many stress-tolerant rice varieties, and the government should focus on their promotion, he added.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan also expressed his concern that fall in production in Aus and Aman seasons might affect the country's total rice output.
He said despite a record production in FY 14, prices of rice have increased nearly by 7 per cent on an average.
The decline in output might cause further increase in prices of rice, he opined.
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com
Aus output static this season due to floods
Yasir Wardad | Published: January 31, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
Share if you like