Higher yields driving rice output in Bangladesh.

Rice production in Bangladesh is expected to increase 0.4% to 34.7 million tonnes in the 2017-18 marketing year, driven by higher yields in the region. Planted area for the country is forecast down 0.3%, to 11.7 million hectares, on lower Boro and Aus rice planted area. Farmers are reportedly switching to more profitable crops like maize, potato, jute, pulses and oilseeds. planted area for Aman rice (planted in July/August and harvested in November/December) rise to meet staple food demand and to avoid switching crops during the monsoon season. Rice imports for 2017-18 are forecast at 125,000 tonnes, up from 100,000 tonnes in 2016-17, on expectations of better pricing from regional suppliers.