The government of Bangladesh announced that it will begin procuring paddy, rice, and wheat from May 3 under the current fiscal year’s food procurement program, continuing until August 31. According to the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee, chaired by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, the purchase prices have been fixed at Tk 36 per kilogram for Boro paddy, Tk 49 for parboiled rice, Tk 48 for Atap rice, and Tk 36 for wheat.

The meeting, held at the Secretariat’s Press Information Department conference room, was attended by State Minister for Food Abdul Bari. The government has set procurement targets of 500,000 metric tons of Boro paddy, 1.2 million metric tons of parboiled rice, 100,000 metric tons of Atap rice, and 50,000 metric tons of wheat. Paddy and wheat collection will start on May 3, while rice collection will begin on May 15.

The Home Minister stated that the country currently has sufficient rice reserves, with 1.7 to 1.8 million tons stored in government warehouses. He added that Bangladesh’s total wheat demand is 8 million metric tons, of which 7 to 7.2 million tons are produced domestically, and the remaining 800,000 tons are imported through government-to-government arrangements.