Staple food highlights

Rice output hits record, farmers not so happy

Cropping 1.91 crore tones of borro rice in last season’s production, farmers helped Bangladesh attain highest yield and self-sufficiency in staple food. Total rice output was 3.47 crore tones in fiscal 2014-15. Farmers however, were not satisfied, since market glut from India increased supply and decreased prices, below production costs. Rice import rose almost 4 times last year, which led the government to put a 10 pc duty on rice. However, Indians decreased their own prices. Rice prices although fell, but are affected now due to recent flooding.