Import of food grains in the last fiscal year (FY21) increased by 60.32 per cent in terms of payments.
Statistics recorded by customs and compiled by the central bank showed that import payments for food grains stood at US$2.68 billion in the last fiscal year which was $1.67 billion in FY20.
It also showed that import of rice jumped by many folds, over 3,800 per cent, to $850.9 million in the last fiscal year from $21.50 million in FY20 only.
Shortage in rice production coupled with an increase in rice price pushed the import of rice in the last fiscal year.
Earlier, Bangladesh Bank Quarterly said that production of aman rice, the second biggest crop of the country after boro, declined due to floods and excessive rainfalls in several districts of the North Bengal region.
Aman output came down to 14.44 million tonnes in the last fiscal year which was 15.50 million tonnes in FY20.
It also said that boro, the main crop of the food grains, was cultivated in higher than targeted acreage in FY21.
Total output of rice stood at 38.60 million tonnes in the last fiscal year which was slightly lower than 38.70 million tonnes.
Import of wheat increased to around $1.83 billion ($1829.6 million) in FY21, up by 10.85 per cent from $1.60 billion in the previous fiscal year.
Production of wheat is very small in the country and almost unchanged at 1.23 million tonnes only.
