It may sound unrealistic, but rice export from Bangladesh can help it attain food autarky and even bring an era of food surpluses'.

Achieving self-sufficiency in food production is not a prerequisite for rice export. Rather, it would help increase production and make the country a food surplus one. a recent study by an international organisation observed.

Bangladesh suffered chronic food shortage over decades but the study, examining experiences of several countries, viewed that rice export from the country is not only possible but also necessary.

"The country which in the past supplied finest rice to the Mughul emperors and to the continent of Australia, needs no assurance that it can produce both quality and quantity." the study said.

Conducted by the International Food Policy Research Institute. the study examined the experiences of China. India. Thailand and Vietnam that faced food shortage for decades and have now overcome the problem.

"Production in Vietnam increased with increase of export." Starting in 1988, Viet-

nam has rapidly become the second largest rice exporter in the world. In recent years, her export figures are: 2.2 million MT (metric tons) in 1994. 2.3 million MT in 1995. 3.04 million MT in 1996and 4 million MT in 1998.

"Whereas Bangladesh with the same population density per hectare agricultural land and same structure of fanning is yet to export rice on significant scale." the study noted.

The United States Agency for International Development financed the study titled "Food Management and Research Support Project". The study report written by Mahfoozur Rahman will be submitted to the government very soon.

According to statistics provided by USAID, rice production in Bangladesh increased to around 27.63 million MT during the year 1997 from 25.25 million MT in 1995.

Rice export, increase in food production and stabilisation of food prices are inter-related issues. When a country exports surplus rice, prices can not fall below production cost, which keep the growers continue production the following seasons, the study pointed out.

Chtnigura. kalizira, kataribhog and dadkhani rice produced in Bangladesh belong to special aromatic variety having tremendous demand in the international market because of their quality. Chtnigura is produced in Mymensingh, Dhaka; Kalizira in Sherpur, Mymensingh: dadkhani in Natore, Rajshahi and kataribhog in Dinajpur.

These varieties are grown only in aman season. Their production totalled three lakh MT in 1996. an estimate by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute said.

Though the average yield of these varitiesis 1 to 1.50 MT per hectare against the average national production of 2.7 MT. production of these is still lucrative for the farmers because of high price.

These varities are better than basmati of Pakistan and India and Jasmine of Thailand which dominate the international rice market. The price of Bangladeshi aromatic rice in word market is also much higher than that of basmati

Pakistani basmati prices range between 600 to 800 dollars per MT while that of Bangladeshi aromatic rice is as high as 950 dollars per MT.

Major buyers of aromatic rice are China. Middle East and EU countries and the United States. ,

Bangladesh now exports to US only 200 MT of this variety annually. It has demand for 60.000 MT in UK and US markets. the study said.

The country also produces High Yielding Variety (HYV) of ■parboiled' rice that is considered a low priced, low grade product. But it is highly priced in many African countries and in Sri Lanka, the Maldives and places where communities of Indian origin live.

The study said that Bangladesh's HYV boro varieties have a market of one MT ready because African buyers import only parboiled coarse rice considering the price. "Bangladesh's aman HYV varieties will also find ready market if efforts are made."

Contradicting the popular concept that rice export would threaten the country's food security. the study stressed "it would rather enhance the food security”.

"If there is a national will like Vietnam now and China earlier, rice export will bring an era of food surpluses.” it said.