The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Wheat production in Bangladesh is expected to rise by over 80 per cent in this wheat season, supported by favourable weather.

According to the official of the Ministry of Agriculture, the lot is likely to reach upto 1.4 million tons, which would play a vital role to ease domestic food shortage.

Harvesting of wheat started late last month, which is expected to complete by the end of the current month. This year, wheat was cultivated on over 400,000 hectares of land and has reported to enjoy a supportive weather till now.

"We expect a bumper crop of wheat," said agriculture department officials, if nature have a mercy upon us. Bangladesh is estimated to have lost three million tons of food, including rice and wheat in last fiscal year due to a series of floods and Cyclone Sidr.

Officials also informed, wheat production would surpass a target of 840,000 tons by 66.67 per cent.

"Wheat production will cross the target due to favourable weather conditions, particularly timely rain and long lasting winter," Kshirode Chandra Roy, Director of the state-run Wheat Research Center said.

Bangladesh's Food and Disaster Management Ministry has started a drive to buy 50,000 tons of wheat from farmers to secure food stocks.

"We have fixed the price at Tk26 ($0.38) per kg for procurement of the wheat direct from farmers," Pius Costa, a senior official of the food ministry said.

Bangladesh consumes 3.5 million tons of wheat a year, partly met by Government and private sector imports with the reminder being met by overseas grants.

The country's rice and wheat imports by the end of this fiscal year should reach 4 million tons, they said.