850,000 tonnes of rice to be distributed under OMS
Doulot Akter Mala | Saturday, 26 July 2008
An inter-ministerial meeting directed the authorities concerned to boost the government's food grains stock, which is required to successfully implement various social safety net programmes for the current fiscal.
The meeting also recommended strengthening of the existing monitoring cells and taskforces to help keep prices of essential commodities at a tolerable level.
Chaired by additional commerce secretary Golam Mostakim, the meeting was informed that the government had taken a move to distribute nearly 3.0 million tonnes of food grains in the current fiscal as a part of its social safety net programmes to keep the food grain prices stable in the local market.
Under the distribution planning, around 850,000 tonnes of rice have been kept for Open Market Sale (OMS).
The food and disaster management ministry distributed 2,67,000 tonnes of rice through OMS programme during September-October and January-May period last year.
The government, meanwhile, announced to introduce OMS from August to provide rice at cheaper price during the holy month of Ramadan.
The food ministry has now built up a stock of rice and wheat at around 8,61,000 tonnes. The quantity was 4,50,000 tonnes at this time last year, officials said.
The government has planned to sell rice at 'fare price' through dealers for the low-income group of people in the labour-intensive area in Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna, they added.
Officials said rice prices usually show upward trend in June and that there are some incidences of 'Monga' (near famine) in some areas until the harvest of Aman rice before arrival of winter.
They said the government should take necessary measures now to avoid any disruption in food grain supply.
"The government is planning to raise the 'buffer stock of food' to 1.5 million tonnes from 1.0 million tonnes," a senior official of commerce ministry said.
He said the authorities will take necessary measures to help the farmers get actual prices of their produces.
The government is also expediting import of 380,000 tonnes rice from India out of agreed 500,000 tonnes to ensure sufficient stock of rice during the month of Ramadan, he said.
The government until June procured around 5,26,000 tonnes of rice and 42,000 tonnes of paddy, he said quoting data of food ministry.
This year, the government's rice procurement target has been surpassed by 200,000 tonnes.
"We have already signed agreement to import 9,32,000 tonnes of rice. Of which, 5,26,000 tonnes have already arrived the country," he said.
Rice price in the city market also increased as the government imposed restriction on trucks plying with more than 12 tonnes through the Jamuna Bridge, officials said.
The meeting also recommended strengthening of the existing monitoring cells and taskforces to help keep prices of essential commodities at a tolerable level.
Chaired by additional commerce secretary Golam Mostakim, the meeting was informed that the government had taken a move to distribute nearly 3.0 million tonnes of food grains in the current fiscal as a part of its social safety net programmes to keep the food grain prices stable in the local market.
Under the distribution planning, around 850,000 tonnes of rice have been kept for Open Market Sale (OMS).
The food and disaster management ministry distributed 2,67,000 tonnes of rice through OMS programme during September-October and January-May period last year.
The government, meanwhile, announced to introduce OMS from August to provide rice at cheaper price during the holy month of Ramadan.
The food ministry has now built up a stock of rice and wheat at around 8,61,000 tonnes. The quantity was 4,50,000 tonnes at this time last year, officials said.
The government has planned to sell rice at 'fare price' through dealers for the low-income group of people in the labour-intensive area in Dhaka, Chittagong and Khulna, they added.
Officials said rice prices usually show upward trend in June and that there are some incidences of 'Monga' (near famine) in some areas until the harvest of Aman rice before arrival of winter.
They said the government should take necessary measures now to avoid any disruption in food grain supply.
"The government is planning to raise the 'buffer stock of food' to 1.5 million tonnes from 1.0 million tonnes," a senior official of commerce ministry said.
He said the authorities will take necessary measures to help the farmers get actual prices of their produces.
The government is also expediting import of 380,000 tonnes rice from India out of agreed 500,000 tonnes to ensure sufficient stock of rice during the month of Ramadan, he said.
The government until June procured around 5,26,000 tonnes of rice and 42,000 tonnes of paddy, he said quoting data of food ministry.
This year, the government's rice procurement target has been surpassed by 200,000 tonnes.
"We have already signed agreement to import 9,32,000 tonnes of rice. Of which, 5,26,000 tonnes have already arrived the country," he said.
Rice price in the city market also increased as the government imposed restriction on trucks plying with more than 12 tonnes through the Jamuna Bridge, officials said.