Corn Imports Drop of 9,578 Ton

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.

The government of Bangladesh is planning to appoint globally experienced foreign firms to operate Chattogram Port and other key sea and land ports to address capacity limitations and reduce container congestion, as stated by Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) signed a Tk 61.96 billion contract with a Japanese joint venture (Penta-Ocean Construction and TOA Corporation) to build Bangladesh’s first deep-sea port at Matarbari, as part of the revised Tk 243.81 billion Matarbari Port Development Project.

The government has approved a major support project for the Bay Terminal at Chattogram port, focusing on marine infrastructure development with a budget of Tk 13,525.57 crore. The project, considered crucial for Bangladesh’s growing economy due to the lack of a true deep-sea port, will include building a breakwater and improving port connectivity.