1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 23
Summary
Dulal Hossain, a 68-year-old farmer in western Bangladesh, harvested barely one-fourth of his usual rice crop last month after diesel shortages left his irrigation pump dry.
Three days in fuel lines and six weeks of bicycling diesel home were not enough to save the crop, as war-linked shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz drove up energy prices and tightened South Asian diesel supply.
The lost harvest left Hossain with enough rice to feed his family but nothing to sell, forcing him to cut meat and fish from meals and borrow money for vegetable seeds.
In Bangladesh, 15 million households farming less than three acres produce about two-thirds of the country's rice, underscoring how fuel shortages can quickly threaten rural incomes and food supply.
Across Asia and Africa, millions of farmers are facing the same squeeze, with higher fuel costs and weaker harvests pushing many to borrow now at the risk of undermining future planting.
Bangladesh’s 2026 Boro rice harvest suffered major setbacks due to excessive rainfall, causing widespread crop damage across multiple regions. As of late July, the full scale of losses remains unclear, with formal estimates and economic impacts still being compiled by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. This uncertainty leaves farmers, policymakers, and markets in a state of flux, as they await a comprehensive assessment to understand the true extent of the crisis and its implications for national food security and market stability. The situation highlights the urgent need for timely data and coordinated response efforts.