Teesta’s water deficit affecting northern farmers

The price of each unit of broiler chicken cannot exceed Tk200, but consumers are being charged up to Tk280 in various markets throughout the city, according to the director of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection on Wednesday. His team has offered the government with eight ideas for corrective action. He expected concerned authorities to take action to reduce the burden of inflation on consumers. He stated that if there is an anomaly in any market, action will be taken against the relevant market management committee.

According to researchers, balanced fertilizer use might enhance agricultural productivity by 8 to 14% while saving Tk 20,000 crore per year in Bangladesh. According to a news release, the researchers delivered the facts at an event named "Fertiliser Policy Debate" at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) at Farmgate in Dhaka yesterday. According to them, the government formerly provided fertilizer subsidies worth around Tk 8,000 crore per year, but the amount has now been boosted to more than Tk 30,000 crore due to price increases in the foreign market.

Broiler chickens reached an all-time high of Tk 290 per kilogram at Dhaka's kitchen markets on March 20, 2023, just hours after the commerce minister issued a warning against price-fixers. According to the Trade Corporation of Bangladesh, the price of broiler has increased by 90-100 percent in the last two months (TCB).

Potato export from farmers, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, continues to grow, as producers came together on Sunday to celebrate another year of success. According to an FAO press release, four producer cooperatives participated in the fourth annual potato export launch in Rangpur, the nation's primary potato-growing region. Bangladesh produced 11 million tonnes of rice last year, making it Asia's third-largest producer behind China and India, and it exported nearly 0.8 million tonnes of that total. Three-quarters or more of the exports of potatoes went to Malaysia, a fourth to Nepal, and a fifth to Sri Lanka.

Through Chattogram seaport, Bangladesh is exported watermelons to Malaysia in an air-conditioned container on 17th March, 2023. In the initial shipment, 13,320 kilograms of watermelon are being exported to Malaysia by Sattar International, which is based in Halishahar, Chattogram. According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), watermelon has seen bumper production in recent years. In the fiscal year 2021-22, watermelon was produced 5.50 lakh tons while 3.45 lakh tons in FY 2020-21 and 2.50 lakh tons in FY 2019-20.

Pangas, one of the prime sources of protein for the marginalised and poor, is losing its foothold on consumers’ food plates, evident by the species’ declining stake in Bangladesh’s total fish production. On the issue, Department of Fisheries Director (Inland) Shamim Ara Begum said, “Market prices of fish is the key factor behind the declining stake of Pangas. Farmers can yield high profits in a shorter period if they culture Rui instead of Pangas.