2024-09-02 22:02:53
Published: 16:53, 1 September 2024
Food Secretary Ismail Hossain said that there is no food crisis in the country. At present, the government stock of food (rice and wheat) is 19 lakh metric tons.
On Sunday (September 1) in the conference room of the Ministry of Food in the Secretariat, he said this about the overall food situation of the country, including domestic food procurement, storage situation and government food assistance programs in the flood affected districts.
He said that now the government stock of food (rice and wheat) in the country is 19 lakh metric tons. It is safe. We have kept 13 lakh tonnes in emergency stock. After that, this collection season is supposed to be another 2 lakh tons so far. We have a lot of stock there.
He also said that not only the government stock, but the private stock of 1,500 mills is satisfactory. Because Boro’s production was good last season. Besides, there was some disruption in the supply in between. But now there is no problem.
Regarding the purchase or import of food from abroad, the Food Secretary said that now there is no government purchase proposal. I will buy if the new government agrees. However, a shipment of 50,000 tons of wheat bought last year is for release at the port.
Regarding the price of rice, the secretary said that until August 5, the price of rice had increased by Tk 2-5. Now reduced. Normal quality rice is available in the market at Tk 49-51. It’s relaxing.
Yesterday (August 31), the food secretary said that the collection program of the Boro season was over. Atap rice has also increased by 24 thousand tons more than the target of 1 lakh tons. But the collection of paddy is less. It is always less. Last year it was 40 percent, better than that. 2 lakh 96 thousand tons against the target of 5 lakh tons of paddy collection.
/Dhaka/AAM/Mehndi/