29 November, 2007 – Bangladesh's rice crop is expected to fall by 1 million tonnes as a result of the devastating cyclone Sidr that tore through the country earlier this month.
Consequently, rice and wheat imports are forecast to increase by 1 million tones and 1.8 million tonnes respectively, said a US Government source.
Rice
The catastrophic cyclone on 16 November damaged around 500,000 hectares of the Aman rice crop that was nearing harvest.
The crop loss caused by the cyclone will further aggravate the already tight rice supply leading to increased dependence on imports - both food aid and commercial.
The Bangladeshi Government is planning to increase grain production this season in a bid to partially off-set the rice loss by providing seeds, fertilizer and credit for other rice strains such as Boro and Aus, which are planted in December or January.
Wheat
In response to higher wheat prices due to other competing crops such as mustard, and pulses, 2007/08 wheat production is forecast at 900,000 tons. A tight overall food grain supply situation should mean larger wheat imports, estimated at 1.8 million tons.