Boro Farmers Grapple with Low Paddy Prices

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.

After interest rates were liberalized in May 2024, agricultural loan rates surged to 15–18%, up from a previous cap of 8%, resulting in a notable decline in disbursements. In the first eight months of the current fiscal year, banks disbursed Tk 22,126 crore in agricultural loans, which is Tk 1,565 crore or 6.60% less than the same period last year.

The expansion of women-led SMEs is strengthening Bangladesh’s poultry industry by boosting employment, production, and market competitiveness. On International Women's Day 2025, the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC) and the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC) highlighted the need to support women entrepreneurs and ensure adequate nutrition for their sustained contributions.

Maize cultivation in Bangladesh has surged, reaching a record 6.72 lakh hectares in FY 2024-25, up from 6.42 lakh hectares in FY 2023-24. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) set a production target of 69.78 lakh tonnes for FY 2024-25, while the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated output to reach 52 lakh tonnes.

Shrimp exports in Bangladesh have halved over the past seven years, forcing many processing units to shut down. Out of 109 registered factories, only 48 remain operational—30 in Khulna and 18 in Chattogram—due to a severe raw material shortage, with factories receiving just 7% of their required shrimp input.

The government's Aman paddy procurement has reached only 8.75% of its 3.5 lakh-tonne target, despite a Tk3 per kg price hike, as farmers prefer selling in the open market due to better prices and fewer hassles. So far, 26,277 tonnes of paddy, 430,206 tonnes of rice, and 77,000 tonnes of Atap rice have been collected, with Atap rice procurement continuing until 15 March.