Rice production in Bangladesh

Rice production in Bangladesh plays a critical role in the nation's economy, affecting various sectors and socioeconomic factors.

In response, the government has focused on the development of high-yielding rice varieties to enhance overall productivity and ensure food security.

Through a process of "artificial selection," ancient farmers developed numerous rice landraces, finely tuned to local environmental conditions.

While the precise count of rice varieties before the Green Revolution remains uncertain, it's estimated that around 15,000 folk landraces thrived in Bengal during the 1940s.

[1] The Green Revolution of the 1960s was a pivotal era for Bangladesh's agriculture, significantly enhancing rice production using high-yield varieties.

[4] By the end of the 20th century, the BRRI had expanded its repertoire to include varieties tailored to the nation's distinct rice-growing seasons, particularly Aman and Boro, further solidifying rice's status in the agricultural sector.

From 2001 onwards, the BRRI's extensive trials across various locations have been instrumental in gauging both genetic improvements and environmental influences on rice yields.

[5] Facing the ongoing challenges of climate change, urbanisation, and a burgeoning population, Bangladesh continues to prioritize the advancement of rice breeding to maintain food security and agricultural sustainability.

Its significance in the economy is immense, both at the macro and micro levels, considering factors such as production volume, employment, trade, processing, food security, and nutrition.

[9][10] Rice cultivation occupies about 76 percent of the total cropped area, spanning approximately 10,500,000 hectares (105,000 km2) of land over 13 million farms.

Another, more productive method involves starting the seeds in special beds and transplanting them during the summer monsoon season (Bengali: রোপা আমন, romanized: ropa aman, lit.

[16] The second harvest, known as Aush or Aus (Bengali: আউশ), typically involves traditional strains of rice but increasingly includes high-yielding, dwarf varieties.

In response, the government imported 1.35 million tonnes of rice in the 2020–21 financial year at reduced tariffs to stabilize prices.

This ranking specifically pertains to the overall GHG emissions, which include not only methane (CH4) but potentially other gases such as nitrous oxide (N2O) from fertiliser use and carbon dioxide (CO2) from various agricultural practices.

[9] The delayed onset of monsoon rains and occasional heatwaves during the Aus season in certain years exacerbate productivity losses further.

Reports indicate that farmers' profits from rice cultivation are dwindling due to rising input costs, including seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides.

Additionally, the high cost of labour and increased supplemental irrigation use due to delayed rainfall contribute to the challenges faced by farmers.

[24] Future challenges facing the agriculture sector include increased humidity causing new diseases, changing climate patterns with decreased rainfall and prolonged winters, rising temperatures, higher sea levels, and growing salinity, all contributing to the productivity lag.