Hami Industries Secures Five-Year Lease for New Agro Project

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.

Inditex, the world’s largest fast fashion group and owner of brands like Zara and Bershka, intends to strengthen its longstanding partnership with Bangladesh, reaffirming the country's role as a critical sourcing hub.

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.

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.

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.