Heavy monsoon rains in June and July compounded by floodwaters from neighbouring India caused the rivers Ganges and Brahmaputra and their tributaries to flow above their danger levels, to erode flood protection embankments and to flood vast areas of the country. Widespread and serious damage to housing and infrastructure was reported, while some 300 000 hectares of rice fields were submerged. Close to 7 million people were affected, of which more than 150 died from flood-related incidents and diseases, thousands were made homeless and hundreds of thousands were marooned. The Government and local NGOs carried out emergency relief operations, supported by international relief organizations which provided food, relief goods and medicines to the most seriously affected populations. In early August, the floodwaters started to recede in the worst hit areas.
The outcome of the 2002 Boro paddy crop harvested in May/June is estimated at 20.0 million tonnes. Together with the 2001 Aus and Aman crops of 2.8 million tonnes and 16.1 million tonnes, respectively, the total 2001/02 paddy production is estimated at a record 38.9 million tonnes. The rising trend in rice production mainly reflects an increased use of hybrid seeds and support to the irrigation sector. Harvesting of the 2002 minor Aus paddy crop was completed in August and, tentatively, the output is estimated at 2.8 million tonnes, similar to the previous year. Currently, the Aman crop is in the ground, planted in June-July and due for harvest in November-December 2002. Assuming normal rainfall for the remainder of the season, but notwithstanding damage to the crop by floods, the output from this crop is provisionally forecast at 16.5 million tonnes of paddy. Together with a targeted output of 19.7 million tonnes from the irrigated Boro crop to be planted in November-December, the total 2002/03 rice production is tentatively forecast at 39 million tonnes (26 million tonnes of milled rice), which is a record.
The food supply situation remains satisfactory. At the beginning of the 2002/03 (July/June) marketing year, government-held food grain stocks were close to 1 million tonnes. Provided the targeted cereal production is achieved, the 2002/03 import requirement is forecast to continue the falling trend of the past years to 1.5 million tonnes (wheat 1.3 million tonnes and rice 0.2 million tonnes).