DHAKA, BANGLADESH — Bangladesh grain farmers have been challenged with a cyclone, heavy monsoon rains and floodwaters lowering its grain production, according to a Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The country’s 2020-21 marketing year rice production is expected to be 35.3 million tonnes, a slight decrease of 600,000 tonnes, or 1.4%, compared to the previous year. In May, a cyclone struck Bangladesh destroying 176,000 hectares of cropland and in August, 36 of Bangladesh’s 64 districts experienced flooding along its major river systems. Despite the flooding and delayed planting, the USDA does not expect the impact to be severe on the Aman rice season.

Bangladesh’s wheat production for the 2020-21 marketing year remains stable at 1.25 million tonnes. If realized, the wheat crop will be a 4.2% increase over the 2019-20 marketing year. The USDA forecasts Bangladesh to import 6.6 million tonnes of wheat in the 2020-21 marketing year.

The USDA’s corn production forecast for the 2020-21 marketing year increased 100,000 tonnes, to 4.5 million tonnes, due to increased feed demand and improved yields. Imports for the commodity also jumped 100,000 tonnes, to 1.5 million tonnes, for the 2020-21 marketing year.