Vegetable production to be hit by floods

Vegetable production in Bangla-desh may fall more than 20 per cent short of this year's target of 2300,000 tonnes as the floods in vast areas of the country and heavy rainfall have severely affected cultivation of summer vegetables, official sources said.

The supply shortage has resulted in high prices of vegetables in the markets.

Increase of transportation costs due to floods, and unscrupulous traders' bid to make profits have also contributed to the unusual price hike of vegetables.

Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) fear that the shortage of supplies and the price hike of summer vegetables are likely to continue for about two months until the arrival of winter vegetables in the market.

"There is no scope for fresh production of summer vegetables now as it is already time for cultivation of winter vegetables, the early varieties of which will be in the market by the end of next month," one official said.

Meanwhile, there is no government plan so far for import of vegetables.

Commerce Secretary, Suhel Ahmed Chowdhury, said: "Normally, we do not import vegetables. We will discuss all aspects of the issue, including supply position and possible deficiency, with all concerned and take necessary steps to face the situation."

The commerce ministry has already made a spot survey of retail markets in Dhaka city and plans to discuss with the communications ministry regarding increase of transportation costs.

According to an official estimate, floods have inundated about 450,000 hectares of crop land in 214 sub-districts of 34 districts. Crops on 164,000 hectares, with 24,000 hectares of those under vegetable cultivation, might be totally damaged due to the floods.

Agriculture experts also attributed the present shortage of vegetable production to heavy showers in May this year. The estimate, however, did not take this into account.