USDA Attache: Bangladesh's 04/05 Rice Crop Seen At 25.4 Mln MT

Bangladesh's 2004/05 rice production forecast is revised down to 25.4 million tons due to potential losses from heavy rains and floods, according to information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service Web site, dated Oct. 8 and released Wednesday.

RICE

MY 2004/05 rice production forecast is revised down to 25.4 million tons from 11.0 million hectares from Post's earlier forecast of 26.5 million tons -the latter made under normal weather assumptions. The 2003/04 production is revised to 26.2 million tons to reflect the official estimate.

The country experienced heavy rains and floods during end-July to mid-August, and again in mid-September, which hampered timely planting of the rain dependent Aman rice crop (harvested in fall and early winter). Farmers tried to offset the crop losses by planting late season low yielding varieties, but with only limited success.

Big Boro Farming Plan Taken Up In Northern Region

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has taken up a huge Boro crop farming plan during the current Robi season in the 16 districts of the northern region.

Under the programme, a total of 43,34,535 tonnes of Boro rice will be produced from 13,01,100 hectares of land in the region, according to the DAE officials.

The officials said, the farmers have already prepared the necessary Boro seedbeds and some of them are now planting the seedlings in their fields. No scarcity of Boro seeds was noticed anywhere in the region this season and the climatic conditions were very favourable to prepare seedbeds so far. Planting of Boro seedlings will continue till February next. Due to bumper production of T-aman crop last year, the enthusiastic farmers are now engaged in an all-out effort to make the Boro farming programme successful.

As a result, more land will be brought under Boro cultivation than the target fixed for the region and there will be a bumper production if the climatic conditions remain favorable during the Boro season, the officials said.

According to the officials in the district administration and DAE in the region, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) distributed adequate quantity of high quality hybrid varieties of Boro seeds through its seed dealers in the 16 northern districts timely.

Besides, the farmers had their own stocks of huge Boro seeds to prepare their seedbeds. Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation(BPC) has already taken up adequate measures to ensure smooth supply of diesel to the farmers at the fixed prices.

The Power Development Board (PDB) and the Rural Electrification Board (REB) have also taken adequate steps to maintain smooth power supply for irrigation purposes in the rural areas.

Adequate buffer stocks of Chemical fertilizers have been created in all districts of the region and the district administrations are closely monitoring the market prices of fertilizers and will take necessary steps if any quarter is found trying to create fertilizer crisis or its price hike, the officials said.

The DAE sources said, the district-wise fixed target of Boro crop production during this season in the region is as follows:

3,15,074 tonnes of Boro rice will be produced from 94,100 hectares of land in Rangpur, 3,10,114 tonnes from 93,100 hectares in Gaibandha, 2,28,974 tonnes from 69,600 hectares in Kurigram 2,11,398 tonnes from 63,200 hectares in Nilphamari, 1,44,572 tonnes from 43,300 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 4,38,850 tonnes from 1,31,000 hectares in Dinajpur, 1,23,950 tonnes from 37,000 hectares in Thakurgaon and 60,300 tones of Boro rice from 18,000 hectares in Panchagarh districts under Rangpur Agriculture Zone.

Under Rajshahi Agriculture Zone, 1,87,948 tonnes of Boro rice will be produced from 56,200 hectares of land in Rajshahi, 5,48,138 tonnes from 1,64,200 hectares in Naogaon, 2,06,960 tonnes from 62,500 hectares in Natore, 1,50,789 tonnes from 45,300 hectares in Capainawabganj, 2,11,050 tonnes from 63,000 hectares in Joypurhat, 6,26,232 tonnes from 1,87,800 hectares in Bogra, 1,90,462 tonnes from 58,200 hectares in Pabna and 3,79,724 tonnes from 1,14,000 hectares in Sirajganj districts.

Rice Production To Increase By 4%

Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has forecast that paddy production during the current season in Bangladesh would stand at 39.6 million tonnes, four per cent higher than the last year.

FAO reports under its global information and early warning system on food and agriculture forecast that the increase in the rice production is consistent with the intensification of government support and the ongoing tendency to shift from jute to rice cultivation as response to relatively high paddy price.

The international organisation on food and agriculture said the main crop which is being currently harvested is the Aman planted in June and July. The harvesting of Aman has started in October and is almost completed.

The 39.6 million tonnes of production of rice was some 13 per cent above the average of the previous five years, FAO said, adding this was the result of the application of improved farming technology and planned irrigation, says BSS.

The production would reach this record high despite rains in June which have caused the loss of some 136,000 hectars of paddy land.

FAO in its international food outlook preview said global rice situation would remain tightened this year while the import forecast for Bangladesh in 2003 has been adjusted upward from 502,000 to 700,000 tonnes, in accordance with the official figures showing a decrease of output in 2002.This increase over last year's level should be facilitated by the reduction in import duties which went into effect last February, the FAO said.

The FAO also forecast a favourable wheat output situation in In the country. It said wheat harvested earlier this year is estimated at 1.65 million tonnes, as compared to last year's average production of 1.55 million tonnes and to an average of the past five years of 1.71 million tonnes.It said in fiscal 2003-04 wheat imports are likely to be 1.70 million tonnes, slightly above last year's 1.66 million tonnes.

Govt Fixes Target For Rice Procurement In FY04

The cabinet yesterday at its weekly meeting fixed target and price of rice procurement for the coming Aman season, according to a handout.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia presided over the meeting attended by ministers and state ministers of respective ministries.

Rice procurement target for 2003-'04 has been fixed at two lakh tonnes. The government would directly buy 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice from the markets, mainly from growers.

In addition to this, the authorities would procure 73,000 tonnes of paddy, that would be approximately equivalent to 50,000 tonnes of rice.

Price of Aman paddy has been fixed at Taka 8.40 per kg while that of rice at Taka 12.80 per kg in this season. The procurement timeline will begin from November 15 and will continue up to February 28, 2004.

The cabinet decided to extend all support to the country's agriculture sector to bring further boost to rice production and other food varieties.

The target of Aman paddy cultivation has been achieved in Netrakona district of Bangladesh this year.

Favourable climatic condition prevailing in the district has been attributed to achievement of the target, the district Agriculture Extension Department (AED) sources said.A total of 1,27,000 hectares of land have been brought under Aman cultivation programme in the district during the current season with a production target of 2,68,000 MT of paddy. Of the total land, 87,000 hectares have been brought under High Yielding Variety (HYV) with a production target of 1,88,000 MT of paddy and 40,000 hectares under local variety with a production target of 80,000 MT of paddy.

The upazila-wise break-up of the land brought under Aman cultivation is as follows: 15,800 hectares of land have been brought under cultivation in Sadar, 10,600 hectares of land in Barhatta, 8,100 hectares in Mohanganj, 13,900 hectares in Madan, 700 hectares in Khaliajury, 12,000 hectares in Purbadhala, 12,500 hectares in Durgapur, 15,250 hectares in Kendua, 8,750 hectares in Atpara and 12,400 hectares in Kalmakanda upazilas.

Farmers have brought additional 15,000 hectares of land under other varieties of Boro paddy, unofficial sources said. They have already weeded their lands and applied fertiliser, the sources added.

The Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) has provided the farmers with high yielding varieties of seeds at fair prices. Besides, some farmers have collected seeds from the local contractors of BADC.

The AED is providing the farmers with necessary fertiliser and other logistic support. Bangladesh Krishi Bank and other nationalised commercial banks have already disbursed loans among the farmers to make the programme a success. Framers are expecting a bumper production of Aman paddy if the climatic condition remains conducive.