From May to July 2026, Bangladesh was in the sowing and early growth stages of Aman-season rice. Aman rice is a late-season, winter-harvest rice crop, also known as wet-season rice (kharif). It is planted from May to June and harvested from September to December. During the same period, Aus-season rice, a summer-harvest crop planted from March to June and harvested from July to October, was in its growth and yield-formation stage.

CropWatch remote-sensing monitoring indicated that the planting area of Aman-season rice was approximately 5.961 million hectares, with an average yield of approximately 3,902 kg/ha and estimated total production of approximately 23.26 million tonnes.

Figure 2.2 Spatial distribution of Aman-season rice planting area (left) and yield (right) in Bangladesh, 2026

CropWatch remote-sensing monitoring also indicated that the planting area of Aus-season rice was approximately 1.008 million hectares, with an average yield of approximately 3,396 kg/ha and estimated total production of approximately 3.42 million tonnes. The planting area of Aman-season rice was substantially larger than that of Aus-season rice, making Aman rice the main component of Bangladesh’s current rice production.

Figure 2.3 Spatial distribution of Aus-season rice planting area (left) and yield (right) in Bangladesh, 2026

CropWatch agroclimatic indicators showed that the RAIN reached 1,048 mm during the monitoring period, 3% below the 15-year average but still abundant. The TEMP was 27.9°C, 0.2°C below normal. The RADPAR was 631 MJ/m², 4% below average, while the BIOMASS was 1,471 g DM/m², close to the 15-year average. Overall, the RADPAR was slightly below normal, while thermal conditions remained stable and the BIOMASS showed no clear decline. The effects of agroclimatic conditions on major rice production were therefore generally manageable.

According to the CropWatch agronomic indicators, the CALF was 72%, 2% above the average for the same period over the past five years. The VCIx was 0.75, and the CroPI was 0.84. The ADAC was −95.1%, while the PDSI and CWSI were −3.85 and 1.55, respectively. Together, these indicators suggest that localized water stress remained a risk, but national planting progress was generally normal, with no evidence of widespread deterioration in crop production.

Overall, during May–July 2026, Aman- and Aus-season rice production in Bangladesh showed generally stable planting area and yield results. Agroclimatic conditions were broadly normal, and the BIOMASS remained close to the 15-year average. Although the RAIN and RADPAR were slightly below average and some areas still require attention to water availability, the overall rice production outlook remains stable. Going forward, attention should focus on the persistence of monsoon rainfall, the early growth of Aman rice, and yield formation and harvest conditions during the later Aus season.