Dear Editor,
In his address to the nation on July 31, a solemn President Ali reported that some 50,000 acres of rice were affected by the floods. This represented 20% of total rice lands under cultivation (225,000). It was portrayed as a catastrophe for the rice farmers who would receive $3.2B or US$15M. Yesterday, the Ministry of Finance reported that the rice sector GREW “by an estimated 7.8 percent in the first half of the year, marginally lower than the target set for the period.” Readers can draw their own conclusions based on the above.
Sincerely,
Lynn Nicholas
