DHAKA : Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today said that the government will begin a nationwide drive to procure paddy, rice and wheat from May 3, continuing until August 31.
Under the programme, food grains will be collected directly from farmers across the country at government-fixed prices through the Ministry of Food, he told at a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID) in the secretariat.
Earlier, a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee was held at the Ministry of Food with the home minister in the chair.
Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for Food Md. Abdul Bari and senior officials from relevant ministries attended the meeting.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, the home minister said the government has set a target to procure 500,000 metric tons of paddy, 12.50 lakh metric tons of parboiled rice, 100,000 metric tons of non-parboiled rice (atap rice) and 50,000 metric tons of wheat this year.
He said procurement prices have been fixed at Tk 36 per kg for paddy, Tk 49 for parboiled rice, Tk 48 for atap rice, and Tk 36 per kg for wheat.
The committee also reviewed overall stock requirements, including buffer stocks, safety reserves and possible import needs, he added.
The overall rice procurement target has been set at 24 to 25 lakh metric tons, while the current public stock stands at around 17 to 18 lakh metric tons.
On wheat imports, the minister said Bangladesh usually imports through government-to-government arrangements, including an existing understanding with the United States. If necessary, imports may also be conducted through open tenders.
He added that there is currently no shortage of rice production in the country and no immediate need for imports, although additional stocks will be maintained to ensure food security.
The country’s annual rice demand is about 4.24 crore metric tons, he said, adding that production has been good this year
The home minister also expressed optimism that favourable weather conditions and the absence of any major disaster risks so far could help the country exceed its production target.
