Dhaka: Floods in Bangladesh destroyed an estimated 1.1 million metric tons of rice, according to data from the agriculture ministry, prompting the country to increase imports of the staple grain amid rising food prices.
Floods caused by heavy monsoon rains and heavy runoff hit the country in two major waves in August and October, claiming at least 75 lives and affecting millions, especially in the eastern and northern regions where crop damage was most severe.
The Ministry of Agriculture said this year’s floods led to a significant loss in rice production. In response, the government is moving quickly to import 500,000 tons of rice, and is expected to allow the private sector to import soon, a Food Ministry official said.
The interim government, which took power in August after bloody protests forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India, has been struggling to stabilize food prices that have risen nearly 20% in recent months.
Increased imports from Bangladesh could lift shipments from neighboring India, the world’s largest rice exporter, which last month reduced customs duties on parboiled rice exports to 10%.
The floods also severely affected other agricultural products, including more than 200,000 tons of vegetables.
Total agricultural losses nationwide due to floods are estimated at about 45 billion taka ($380 million).
Bangladesh, the world’s third largest rice producer, produces nearly 40 million tons of rice annually to feed its population of 170 million people. However, natural disasters often disrupt production and lead to increased dependence on imports.
This year’s floods have highlighted Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change. A 2015 analysis by the World Bank Institute estimated that 3.5 million people in Bangladesh are at risk of annual river floods, a risk that scientists say is exacerbated by global climate change.
“To ensure food security in the face of increasing climate challenges, it is necessary to develop more flood- and drought-tolerant crop varieties, as well as short-lived varieties,” said Khandakar Muhammad Iftekharudawla, chief scientific officer at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. .
He said investment in agricultural research is critical to developing these resilient crops.
“By focusing on flood- and drought-resistant traits, we can help farmers adapt to changing weather patterns and stabilize crops even in difficult conditions.”