TK 57 Crore incentives allocated for farmers

The price of hilsa has surged by Tk 100 per kilogram following increased demand for exports to India ahead of the Durga Puja festival. Hilsa wholesaler Narottam Das revealed that the price rose to Tk 1,520-1,550 per kilogram, up from Tk 1,450-1,470.

Over 2,000 hectares of Aman paddy fields in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram, Bangladesh, have been submerged due to continuous heavy rains . The flooding has been caused by rising water levels in the Ratnai and Dharla rivers. Farmers are facing significant crop damage, with their Aman fields submerged.

In Bogura district, there is a crisis in market despite the significant surplus of potatoes. Overproduction of potatoes, totaling 1,224,342 metric tons from 53,215 hectares of land, far exceeds the demand of 200,000 metric tons for the local population of 3.7 million. There are 41 cold storage facilities with a capacity of 374,629 metric tons.

The retail price of broiler chicken in Bangladesh has surged due to a shortage of day-old chicks. In the past month, the price of chicks has risen from Tk 15 to Tk 25 per piece, leading to concerns among poultry farmers. The cost has escalated from Tk 35 to Tk 50-60, causing an increase in the cost of production for poultry farmers.

Ilish, also known as hilsa fish, is a significant global commodity with presence in 11 countries, including Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Thailand. Bangladesh dominates the market, contributing to 75% of the world's hilsha production. The unique flavor of Bangladeshi hilsha distinguishes it from others.

Bangladesh recently exported 173 tonnes of Hilsa fish to India in a span of three days leading up to Monday, via the Benapole port. This export is part of a government-approved quota of 3,950 tonnes of Hilsa to India for 2023. The move has brought joy to residents of Kolkata who can enjoy Padma's Hilsa before the Durga Puja festival.