Govt has highest-ever food grain stock, rice price hike unlikely: Food adviser

The country currently holds its highest-ever government stock of food grains, raising hopes that rice prices are unlikely to increase further, Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder said today (4 January).

"Last year, rice prices increased due to the change of government and natural disasters. This year, food grain stocks are at their highest, and we hope rice prices will not rise," Ali Imam Majumder said at a media briefing on the country's food stock situation at the Ministry of Food conference room in the Secretariat.

He said government warehouses currently hold 2.027 million tonnes of food grains, adding that the government has the capacity to increase reserves to as much as 2.4 million tonnes.

The food adviser also said a substantial amount of paddy and rice would be procured during the upcoming Boro season, while procurement during the ongoing Aman season has been satisfactory.

"Compared to the last five years, food grain stocks are the highest this year," he added.

Regarding rice imports from India, Ali Imam Majumder said imports were continuing as usual and dismissed any political dimension. "Rice imports from India are normal. There is no political issue involved. We do not see imports through a political lens," he said.