Bangladesh will import 0.25 million tonnes of wheat from Ukraine under the government-to-government (G-to-G) basis, officials said.
The Ministry of Food (MoF) has already placed a proposal to the Cabinet Committee on Purchase for approval of the wheat import after getting green signal from the Prime Minister's Office.
"We will import 0.25 million tonnes of wheat from Ukraine. The price has been fixed at US $297.50 per tonne. It includes shipment, insurance and other expenditures," a high official of the MoF told the FE. Â
The MoF annually procures food grains from local sources and import to ensure food security in the country.
Food Minister Quamrul Islam visited Ukraine from August 31 to September 3, 2014. He held meetings with the Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry.
A government delegation of Ukraine visited the country on September 15 last and held meetings with the Director General (DG) of Food from September 17 to September 18 last and signed Agreed Minutes of the Meeting (AMM).
As per the AMM, the duration for completing shipment will be 150 days from the date of signing of the agreement. Â
The first shipment of wheat will commence within 60 days of signing of the agreement. The consignment will arrive at Chittagong and Mongla ports.
Under the memorandum of understanding with Ukraine, the country has so far imported 0.312 million tonnes of wheat. Besides 33,000 tonnes of foodgrains are now waiting at Chittagong port for release.
Earlier, the government wrapped up wheat procurement drive for the current calendar year with almost cent per cent fulfilment of the target. The government had procured 1,49,286 tonnes of wheat against its target of 0.15 million tonnes for the year 2014.
The procurement drive began on April 1 last and ended on June 30, 2014.
During the calendar year 2013, the government had targeted to procure 0.15 million tonnes of wheat. It had procured 1,30,000 tonnes of wheat, which is about 87 per cent of the target.
However, the government had fulfilled its target to procure 0.1 million tonnes of wheat during the calendar year 2012.
The procurement price of wheat was fixed at Tk 27 per kg.
The food official said the country is heavily dependent on import of wheat for meeting its internal demand.
The average annual production of wheat in the country is 1.0 million tonnes against the total demand of 3.5 million tonnes.
Apart from stocking wheat internally, the government is also planning to import it from Russia.
The total stock of food grains at the government silos and warehouses in the country is now 1.416 million tonnes. Of the stock, 1.146 million tonnes are rice while 2,70,000 tonnes are wheat.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com