In Bangladesh, nearly one million tons of paddy are lost due to floods
About one million tons of paddy are destroyed annually in Bangladesh due to floods. The news agency Reuters reported this information with reference to the Ministry of Agriculture of Bangladesh.
Heavy rains and flooding from India in August 2024, caused a severe flood in 11 eastern districts of Bangladesh.
Then there were floods in the northern region in October 2024. At least 75 people lost their lives in this flood. About 5.5 million people have been affected.
The most damage to agricultural products is in the eastern and northern regions of the country. This year’s rice production has drastically decreased due to floods, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Due to which the interim government is going to import half a million tons of rice from abroad soon.
The interim government is struggling to control food prices in the country. Import of rice from India may start soon to deal with the situation.
India is the top exporter of rice globally. On top of that, New Delhi reduced the duty rate on parboiled rice exports by 10 percent last month.
The Bangladesh government is working to boost rice supply in the market, ensure food security, and keep rice prices affordable for everyone.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh, has reduced import duty and regulatory duty and withdrawn advance tax on rice.
According to the Bangladesh Ministry of Agriculture, other agricultural products were also severely damaged due to floods. More than 200,000 tons of vegetables were lost this year due to floods. Bangladesh’s agricultural loss this financial year totals about 380 million US dollars.
Bangladesh ranks third among rice producing countries in the world. About 40 million tons of rice is produced every year. Recently, natural disasters have increasingly interrupted production activities. Lately, natural disasters have been frequently causing disruptions in production. As a result, Bangladesh’s dependence on imports is increasing.
This year’s floods have highlighted Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change. A recent World Bank analysis estimated that 3.5 million people in Bangladesh are at risk of flooding. Scientists say this risk is increasing due to global climate change.
Khandkar Mohammad Iftekharuddaula, a chief scientific officer at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, told Reuters that creating crop varieties resistant to floods and droughts is crucial for food security amid growing climate challenges.
