14,400 Farmers in Jashore to Receive Subsidies to Cultivate Ayush

India has lifted its ban on non-basmati white rice exports, allowing exports with a minimum price of $490 per metric ton, according to a government order. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) updated the policy from "prohibited" to "free," provided the new minimum export price (MEP) is met.

Bangladesh's vegetable exports have sharply declined, dropping by 76.58% over two years due to rising local prices, increasing air cargo and container shipping costs, and excessive chemical usage. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, vegetable exports totaled 14,202 tons, down from 33,923 tons in 2022-23 and 60,634 tons in 2021-22. The cost of shipping vegetables from Bangladesh is significantly higher than from neighboring countries, with air cargo rates exceeding $5 per kilogram compared to $2-$2.50 from Kolkata.

Farmers in Bangladesh face significant post-harvest losses, particularly in onion production, with an estimated waste of 30% from 35 lakh tonnes annually, resulting in a shortfall of 600,000 to 700,000 tonnes. One farmer reported losing 200 maunds of onions, costing over Tk 6 lakh due to inadequate storage and damage during harvest.

Studies conducted by Bangladesh Agricultural University and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute have revealed dangerous levels of heavy metals and pesticide residues in common vegetables and fruits in Bangladesh, posing significant health risks. Vegetables like red amaranth, brinjal, cucumber, and tomato were found to contain high levels of heavy metals, including cadmium, lead, and chromium, with red amaranth having the highest contamination of 704.32 micrograms of cadmium per kilogram—far above the permissible limit of 190 micrograms per kilogram.

Continuous rain and flooding in Chattogram's 15 upazilas, including nearby city areas, have caused a Tk 3.94 billion loss to the agriculture sector, affecting over 161,371 farmers. Crops on 153,103 hectares, including paddy, vegetables, and Aman fields, have been damaged, with 43,500 hectares of Aman submerged and Aush destroyed on 8,383 hectares.

The double impact of flash floods in the southeast and drought-like conditions in the northwest has significantly affected Aman rice cultivation in Bangladesh, raising concerns about national food security. Last fiscal year, Bangladesh achieved its highest Aman rice production at 16.65 million tonnes, with 5.4 million hectares cultivated. This fiscal year, only 5.2 million hectares have been covered so far.