Export Potential of Aromatic Rice from Bangladesh

Export Potential of Aromatic Rice from Bangladesh 

"Kataribhog" rice variety can capture the basmati market, and we face no competition for our traditional aromatic rice varieties, Chinigora/Kalijira, throughout the world. The only thing needed is to provide a guaranteed price to growers and an incentive package to exporters. Bangladesh rice has been able to enter the supermarkets of Europe and the U.S.A. The proposal of providing 25 percent cash compensatory assistance to rice exporters similar to those provided to other promising export sectors (such as garments) would certainly boost the export of fine and aromatic rice.

v  Export of fine and aromatic rice will help to reduce the huge ever-widening trade gap between import and export.

v  Exporting fine and aromatic rice from Bangladesh is a welcome proposal. Export of fine and aromatic rice will also indirectly contribute to the local market stability of coarse rice - our staple food.

v  Reports on the market survey in Badamtoli, Sadarghat, and Kristi Market, Mohammadpur, do not prove the existence of 'Basmati' rice in the local market for export.

v  'Basmati' Kataribhog' -- a fine rice widely grown in Diaper - has the potential to beat the established Basmati market of Pakistan and India,

v  Exportable fine and aromatic rice is grown and milled in concentrated areas in Bangladesh: Rajshahi, Bogra, Diaper and Sherpur.

v  BRRI also released some HYV rice - BR-5 (Dhulabhog), BR-6, BR-7, BR-24, BR-26, BRRI Dhan-37, BRRI Dhan-38 and BRRI Dhan-39 which are superior to the traditional low yielding fine and aromatic rice varieties.

Production of aromatic rice

Based on the market surveys of Badamtoli Rice Market, Dhaka and krishi Market, Mohammadpur, Dhaka, and personal contact with respective DAE Offices, we have been able to collect the following information:

• Commercial scale production of fine and aromatic rice is estimated at about 44,000 MT from select eight areas of Bangladesh. This rice is also grown elsewhere in the country in small quantity. Even with conservative estimates, total production of fine and aromatic rice must exceed 100,000 MT.
• Diaper alone produces about 66 percent of all commercial fine and aromatic rice from select areas. Average yearly production of • Dinajpur for the last three years is about 26,000 MT.
• Barind tract (Rajshahi, Naogaon, Nawabganj area) produces about 15,000 MT of fine and aromatic rice. Bogra produces about 8,000 MT of the fine and aromatic rice while Sherpur produces about 3,000 MT.
• While both fine rice and aromatic rice are grown in almost equal proportion in both locations, Barind tract is more famous for production of aromatic rice (Chinigora) and Dinajpur for fine rice (Kataribhog). Bogra and Sherpur are well known for Kalijira and Chinigora -- the aromatic rice varieties.

Marketing of Aromatic Rice

§  Rice millers of Nawabganj, Dinajpur, Sherpur and Naogaon process fine and aromatic rice in their mills and generally market them to Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and other distant markets. Part of the produce goes to other divisional cities and local markets. Out of the large number of rice mills, we have been able to collect the names and addresses of 23 rice mills with varying capacities to process fine and to aromatic rice. The rice millers usually sell their produce to the Badamtoli Ride- Wholesale Market and Krishi Market, Mohammadpur, Dhaka. According to the rice traders, every month about 200 MT of fine and aromatic rice are exported from Dhaka market. October through December is the peak marketing season covering 70 percent, and June through August covering 20 percent.

## Author : Collected from BSMRAU