Floods in Bangladesh destroyed an estimated 1.1 million tons of rice, according to data from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture.
The Ministry of Agriculture stated that “the floods that the country witnessed this year led to a significant loss in rice production.”
An official in the Ministry of Food said, “The government dealt with this crisis by moving quickly to import 500,000 tons of rice, and it is expected to allow the private sector to import soon.”
He added: “The interim government is making efforts to stabilize food prices, which have risen by about 20 percent over the past few months.”
This government took power last August, after protests during which deaths occurred, forcing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India.
“Floods, caused by heavy monsoon rains and torrential torrents from headwaters, swept Bangladesh in two major waves in August and October, killing at least 75 people and affecting millions of people. The floods also severely affected other agricultural products, including more than 200,000 tons of Vegetables, and the total agricultural losses nationwide due to floods are estimated at about 45 billion taka ($380 million).”
It is noteworthy that Bangladesh is the third largest rice producer in the world, and produces approximately 40 million tons of rice annually to feed its population of 170 million people.
Last updated: October 20, 2024 – 23:07
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