Edible Oil Import Costs Double to Tk 41,250 Crore

A recent Bangladesh Bank study reveals that farmers are the primary risk-takers in the agricultural value chain, especially for essential items like rice, potatoes, onions, eggs, and broiler chicken. Conducted across 14 districts, the study attributes price increases mainly to supply shortfalls caused by seasonal factors, reduced cultivation areas, floods, and pest attacks. Unlike intermediaries who secure fixed margins, farmers face fluctuating profits or losses depending on market conditions.

In FY2023–24, Bangladesh produced 68.84 lakh tonnes of maize from 6.42 lakh hectares, with FY2024–25 targets set at 71.60 lakh tonnes from 6.51 lakh hectares. Despite high yields of 35–45 maunds per bigha (1 maund ≈ 37 kg), farmers in districts like Lalmonirhat and Rangpur face falling prices—now Tk 28–29 per kg, down by Tk 2–3 from last year—while production costs rose to Tk 11–13 per kg or Tk 14,000–16,000 per bigha.

Bangladesh's tea exports jumped 57.55% in 2024, reaching 2.45 million kilograms and generating Tk45.96 crore in revenue. This marks a strong recovery from previous years when export volumes had dropped below 1 million kgs.

National AgriCare (NAC), a leading Bangladeshi agrochemical and seed company, plans to invest Tk400 crore across agro, pharmaceuticals, seeds, food, and pesticides by 2027, creating 2,000 new jobs. Tk180 crore will go to its pharmaceutical division, One Pharma, which aims to expand medicine exports to 10 new countries, including Algeria.

The interim government has approved the export of 25,000 tonnes of aromatic rice by 133 companies, including Square Food and Beverage, Pran-RFL Group, and Akij Essentials, each permitted to export 500 tonnes, while others like Ispahani and Tanveer Foods were allowed 400 tonnes.

Rice prices in Bangladesh have been rising despite a global decline. The FAO All Rice Price Index dropped by 1.7% in March 2025, down nearly 25% over the past year, reaching a three-year low. However, in Bangladesh, rice prices increased from July-August 2024, peaking just before Eid-ul-Fitr.