PRAN Set to Procure 20,000 Metric Tonnes of Tomatoes

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.

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.

Reckitt Benckiser (Bangladesh) announced a record 3,330% cash dividend (Tk 333 per share) for 2024, despite an 8% decline in annual profit, which stood at Tk 75.20 crore. This drop in profit was accompanied by a decrease in earnings per share, falling from Tk 173.65 in 2023 to Tk 159.17.