Country's total food stock now 6,09,714 tonnes: PM
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the House Wednesday that the country's total stock of rice and wheat until July 19 was 0.609 million tonnes, reports BSS.
Of the total quantity rice is 0.498m tonnes and wheat 0.111m tonnes, she said in reply to a question from treasury bench member Md Shafiqul Islam.
During her question-answer session, the Leader of the House said about 2.0 million tonnes food grains were distributed during the last fiscal year under the government food distribution system.
Of the quantity she said, 0.45 million tonnes of food grains were distributed in June alone this year. As a result, the quantity of food stock has reduced to some extent, she added.
The Prime Minister said massive initiatives have been undertaken to procure food grains from international and domestic sources to ensure food security by increasing the stock.
She said necessary arrangements were made to import 0.75 million tonnes wheat and 0.30 million tonnes rice from the budget of the 2009-10 fiscal year. Of the total she said, 0.45 million tonnes wheat have already been received and the rest 0.30 million tonnes are expected in the next two months.
Sheikh Hasina said an agreement has been signed to purchase 0.18 million tonnes rice from abroad. Of which, 50,000 tonnes have been received and shipment of 0.13 million tonnes made, while 40,000 tonnes rice is awaiting unloading from the port.
The Prime Minister said international quotation and tender for purchasing 0.45 million tonnes wheat and 0.10 million tonnes rice has been invited.
The Leader of the House also said that the rice procurement programmes are continuing in the current Boro season. As many as 0.33 million tonnes rice have already been procured against the agreement of 0.52 million tonnes, she said, adding that necessary initiatives for procuring the rest quantity are continuing.
Besides, she said, initiatives have already been undertaken to import foodgrains from the friendly countries to further strengthen the food security. As part of the initiatives, the process for purchasing rice and wheat from India and Russia is going on.
"So there is no possibility of disruption of food security system as the food stock has increased through international and internal procurement," she said.
Of the total quantity rice is 0.498m tonnes and wheat 0.111m tonnes, she said in reply to a question from treasury bench member Md Shafiqul Islam.
During her question-answer session, the Leader of the House said about 2.0 million tonnes food grains were distributed during the last fiscal year under the government food distribution system.
Of the quantity she said, 0.45 million tonnes of food grains were distributed in June alone this year. As a result, the quantity of food stock has reduced to some extent, she added.
The Prime Minister said massive initiatives have been undertaken to procure food grains from international and domestic sources to ensure food security by increasing the stock.
She said necessary arrangements were made to import 0.75 million tonnes wheat and 0.30 million tonnes rice from the budget of the 2009-10 fiscal year. Of the total she said, 0.45 million tonnes wheat have already been received and the rest 0.30 million tonnes are expected in the next two months.
Sheikh Hasina said an agreement has been signed to purchase 0.18 million tonnes rice from abroad. Of which, 50,000 tonnes have been received and shipment of 0.13 million tonnes made, while 40,000 tonnes rice is awaiting unloading from the port.
The Prime Minister said international quotation and tender for purchasing 0.45 million tonnes wheat and 0.10 million tonnes rice has been invited.
The Leader of the House also said that the rice procurement programmes are continuing in the current Boro season. As many as 0.33 million tonnes rice have already been procured against the agreement of 0.52 million tonnes, she said, adding that necessary initiatives for procuring the rest quantity are continuing.
Besides, she said, initiatives have already been undertaken to import foodgrains from the friendly countries to further strengthen the food security. As part of the initiatives, the process for purchasing rice and wheat from India and Russia is going on.
"So there is no possibility of disruption of food security system as the food stock has increased through international and internal procurement," she said.