DHAKA, BANGLADESH — Bangladesh’s rice, wheat and corn production is expected to increase due to good weather and increased plantings, according to an April 19 Global Agricultural Information Network report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Rice production for the 2020-21 marketing year is expected to rise to 36.3 million tonnes in Bangladesh as further cultivation of hybrid and high yield variety plantings increase. The country is expected to import 200,000 tonnes of rice in the 2020-21 marketing year to ease food security tensions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA said.

Bangladesh wheat production for marketing year 2020-21 also is projected to increase. It is forecast at 1.25 million tonnes, primarily reflecting decreased concern over wheat blast and strengthening domestic prices, the USDA said. Wheat imports also are being spurred over food insecurities caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. The 2020-21 marketing year wheat imports are forecast upward to 6.4 million tonnes.

Unlike rice and wheat, Bangladesh’s corn imports are expected to decrease as increased domestic production is expected along with lower demand from the feed sector, the USDA said. The country’s livestock and poultry sector are slowing production due to COVID-19 causing the less demand for feed. The USDA lowered Bangladesh’s 2020-21 marketing year imports to 1 million tonnes.

The country is seeing a higher corn output as some producers are looking to grow higher margin crops and hoping to achieve higher profit margins. The USDA forecasts about 5.1 million tonnes of corn to be produced in Bangladesh for the 2020-21 marketing year.

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