Potato Cultivation Expands by 64,000 Hectares in 2025

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.

Marico Bangladesh reported a 28% year-on-year profit growth in FY2024-25, reaching Tk 590.6 crore, driven by a 12% increase in revenue to Tk 1,630.93 crore and higher net finance income. The company’s earnings per share (EPS) rose to Tk 187.49 from Tk 146.23 in the previous year.

Bangladesh has launched its first-ever “Soy Month” to promote awareness of soybean’s nutritional and economic value, in collaboration with the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC). The initiative, inaugurated at BPICC headquarters, highlights soybean's role in food security, livestock development, and as a key protein source.

Gold prices in Bangladesh have surged to record highs, outpacing even optimistic global projections. As of Sunday, 22-carat gold hit Tk 167,833 per bhori, with one ounce of gold locally priced at Tk 447,548—about Tk 44,824 more than the current international rate.