Photo: Collected
To deal with the dollar crisis, the emphasis is on procuring rice from farmers at a higher rate than importing rice. In the meantime, the allocation of Tk 1,600 crore has been reduced from the rice import sector. It will save at least 15 million US dollars. In 2022-23 fiscal year, there is no need to import rice till the collection of this Amon season as the production in the previous seasons was good. In addition to this, due to the dollar crisis, the government is giving importance to how to handle the food situation without importing rice. In the fiscal year 2021-22, 10.5 million tons of rice was imported, but no rice was imported until April 21.
According to the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRI), an institution under the Ministry of Agriculture, a total of 4 crore 12 lakh tonnes of rice can be produced in the current financial year. Of this Boro 2 crore 9 lakh tonnes, Aush 3 million tonnes and Aman 1 crore 70 lakh tonnes. And the demand of rice in the country is close to 3 crore 5 million tons. As such, there is a surplus of 50 to 60 million tons of rice in the country.
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According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), no parboiled rice has been imported into Bangladesh in the last one year due to the high price of rice in the world market. Whereas in 2021 and 2022, 8 to 1 million tons of rice was imported into the country. And it saved a huge amount of dollars.
The target of rice production in Bangladesh last year was 3 crore 77 lakh metric tons. In contrast, the production of rice was 4 crore 13 lakh metric tons. The Agriculture Department says that since 2018, Bangladesh is producing more rice than the demand.
This continuity of production has been preserved in the current year as well. Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said that there was no need to import rice in the previous year as well. The food ministry’s import data says no rice was imported from July last year to March 7 this year.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, our annual rice demand can be calculated by assuming a per capita requirement of 152 kg of rice. At present there are about 17 crore people in the country. The annual food demand is 2 crore 58 lakh metric tons of rice. Adding 15 percent for seed and wastage and fodder, the total rice requirement stands at 2 crore 96 lakh tonnes or about 3 crore tonnes.
Taking the daily demand of rice into more consideration, the demand of rice stands at 3 crore 10 lakh 25 thousand metric tons as per capita daily half kg or 182.5 kg per person per year. If another 15 percent is added as seed, waste and fodder, the total demand stands at 3 crore 56 lakh 78 thousand metric tons. In contrast, the production of rice was 4 crore 13 lakh metric tons. At present there are 13 lakh 14 thousand 609 metric tons in stock.
According to the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) policy research projections, Bangladesh will produce 4.69 million tons of rice in 2030, 5.41 million tons in 2041 and 6.9 million tons in 2050.
Director General of BRRI Dr. Shahjahan Kabir said that there will be a surplus of 4.2 million tons in 2030, 5.3 million tons in 2040 and 6.5 million tons in 2050. This additional production will act as a buffer stock against any risk we face.
According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data, per capita daily consumption of rice in the country is 328.9 grams. Per capita consumption of rice in urban areas is 284.7 grams, which is 13.44 percent less than the national average. According to the daily calculation of 17 crore people, about 2 crore 60 lakh tons of rice is required annually. People take this rice only as rice. Apart from this, 1 crore tons of rice is used for various poultry feed, seeds and other needs. In total, 3 crore 60 lakh tons are required. But last year the production was 4 crore 13 lakh tons.
BRRI officials said BRRI has already formulated Rice Vision 2050, which projects rice production against growing population in 2030, 2041 and 2050, and BRRI is working on short, medium and long term plans to achieve it. Formulating and implementing strategy to double productivity by 2030. Our rice production has grown at almost twice the rate of population growth in Bangladesh which ensures that we are food surplus.
So where does so much rice go, why does it have to be imported then the question arises why the government still has to import rice. In this regard, rice scientists say that there are 1.2 million Rohingya people in the country. Their information is not included in the census. The rice they eat is produced in our country. Again a part of the rice should be kept for seeds. Rice is wasted due to various reasons. Many farmers personally store rice at home for safety, which is not even counted. Traders also have stocks.
Stakeholders say that rice has non-human consumption (in other uses) apart from human consumption (direct rice). Surplus is OK as human consumption. But non-human consumption is also on the rise. 15 to 20 percent of rice is wasted for non-human consumption. In other words, apart from people’s consumption of rice, rice is used for other purposes. According to the information of the Agricultural Research Institute, new varieties are constantly being developed through research. 115 varieties have been developed so far. It increases yield and production more than before. Uncultivated land is being brought under cultivation.
Md. Shahjahan Kabir said, taking into account the per capita daily consumption of rice, 17 crore people need about 2.6 million tons of rice. People take this rice only as rice. Apart from this, one crore tons of rice is used for various poultry feed, seeds and other needs. But last year production was 4 crore 13 lakh tons. As a result there is no need to import rice. But in some cases rice has to be imported to meet the situation. In particular, the government imports rice to counter any risk and control the market.
