This year’s surplus comes to seven million tonnes. Researchers developed 94 new varieties. To increase output, farmers received 120 tonnes of seeds.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – This is a record year for Bangladesh’s rice production and exports, the Agriculture Ministry announced.
According to government figures, rice production came to 36.2 million tonnes this year, far above domestic needs (29.1 million). The seven-million-tonne surplus is the biggest ever.
Md Saharan Kabir, director-general of the government’s Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), said that researchers came up with 94 new varieties of rice. The new seeds were provided to the farmers to boost productivity.
Bangladesh is the world’s fourth biggest rice producer. Rice production is one of the main sources of revenue for the country’s economy.
Bangladeshi rice can be found all over the world, including Sri Lanka which purchased 50,000 tonnes last year.
Unlike previous years, seasonal floods did not negatively impact the 2018 crop, the Agriculture Ministry said.
In addition, BRRI distributed 120 tonnes of seeds to farmers, which helped increase total output.