Recent floods in Bangladesh are expected to reduce rice acreage and production, particularly affecting Aus and Aman seasons. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts rice acreage will fall to 11.5 million hectares for the 2024-25 marketing year, down 3.4 percent from the previous estimate of 11.9 million hectares. This could lead to a 2.4 percent drop in production to 36.8 million tonnes. Aman cultivation area is anticipated to decrease by 3.4 percent to 5.7 million hectares due to flooding in Chattogram, Sylhet, and Barishal regions. Retail rice prices have increased to Tk 52-55 per kilogramme, up 2.88 percent from last year. The USDA also reports a significant reduction in Aus rice acreage by 18.2 percent to 900,000 hectares, with a 16 percent drop in production due to floods and other challenges. The agency noted that Aman rice fields could be replanted if floodwaters recede and adequate seeds are provided by September 15. Despite these challenges, other regions, including Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Dhaka, have made progress in Aman rice transplantation.
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