Country's food situation remains highly satisfactory: Food adviser

The country's food situation remains highly satisfactory, thanks to a bumper Boro harvest, significantly boosting food grain stocks, Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder said today (20 June).

Speaking at a view-exchange meeting at the Patuakhali Circuit House with food department officials from Patuakhali and Barguna, the adviser said: "If Aman cultivation performs as well as Boro, there would be no need to import rice from abroad."

Despite the current positive scenario, he emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant.

 "Though our food stock is in a good state, we cannot afford to be complacent, as food grain consumption is ongoing and rising," he added.

According to the meeting, Patuakhali's Boro procurement targets are 1,925 tonnes of paddy and 5,695 tonnes of rice, with 1,925 tonnes of paddy and 4,997 tonnes of rice already collected. 

In Barguna, the targets are 500 tonnes of paddy and 1,513 tonnes of rice, with 500 tonnes of paddy and 1,349 tonnes of rice procured so far. The six LSDs (Local Supply Depots) in Barguna together have a storage capacity of 15,000 tonnes.

The adviser instructed deputy commissioners to intensify monitoring of procurement and distribution, especially as Patuakhali and Barguna are disaster-prone areas. Ensuring uninterrupted food supply in such regions was highlighted as a priority.

This season, the government plans to procure 17.5 lakh tonnes of Boro crops from the local market, 3.5 lakh tonnes of paddy and 14 lakh tonnes of rice. 

To support farmers, the government has increased the procurement price by Tk 4 compared to last year, fixing paddy at Tk 36 per kg and rice at Tk 49 per kg. The Boro procurement drive, which began on April 24, will continue until August 31.

The food adviser also noted that the proposed food subsidy in the 2025-26 budget has been raised to Tk9,500 crore, up from Tk8,059 crore in the current fiscal year, to provide affordable food to low-income groups.

Under government efforts to expand social safety nets, the number of families receiving subsidised food through the Open Market Sale (OMS) and Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) programs will rise to 55 lakh in the next fiscal year, up from 50 lakh. 

Each family will receive 30 kg of rice monthly at a subsidised rate of Tk15 per kg. Moreover, the program's duration will be extended from five to six months.

The meeting was chaired by Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Abu Hasnat Mohammad Arefin and attended by the Regional Food Controller of Barishal Division and district-level food officials.