Amid the warning of the World Food Programme (WFP) about the possible famine in more than thirty developing countries instigated by the coronavirus pandemic which could leave more than a million people in starvation, the government has promptly resorted to the business of storing additional food grain fearing the forthcoming food crisis around the developing world.
Government has already decided to procure an additional two lakh metric tonnes of rice along with the earlier target of buying 20 lakh metric tonnes of rice in Boro season from internal sources.
Government will also outsource two lakh metric tonnes of wheat from Russia which will be available in the government storehouse from the period of June to August this year.
Economic division of finance ministry already allocated Tk 720 crore to the revised budget in current 2019-2020 FY to procure an additional two lakh metric tonnes of rice from the farmers.
Amid the pandemic, Russia suspended the export of wheat but Bangladesh hopes that Russia will ship wheat to Bangladesh at the stipulated time as both sides inked the deal much earlier of the start of pandemic.
There are some existing 12.78 lakh metric tonnes of food grains in the government warehouse which was collected in last Aman season.
Officials with the knowledge of food security in the country said, there is no reason to worry about food crisis as the country is experiencing a bumper harvest in Boro season and in Aman season too expecting a good harvest amid the monetary and policy help of the government to the farmers in the face of the pandemic situation.
Decision to procure additional two lakh metric tonnes of rice during this Boro harvesting and importing two lakh metric tonnes of wheat from Russia was taken as part of precautionary measure of ensuring food security in the face of possible food crisis in the aftermath of coronavirus prompted pandemic.
UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Food Programme and 14 other organisations, on April 21 warned that global hunger could be the next big impact of the pandemic as around 265 million people around the world will face acute food crisis by the end of this year which is more than double of 130 million people of the last year.
Talking with the Business Post on Friday Sarwar Mahmud director general of directorate general of food said “As a part of regular process we procure food grain from internal source so that food help from government is given to the lower income group people in the crisis period. We also buy rice in larger quantity so that farmers get fair price of their products as well as ensuring food security for the crisis period like ongoing pandemic situation”.
“If we don’t buy rice from farmers in larger quantity, private rice mills owners will hold the farmers hostage and forced them to sell their products in less price. We will import 7 lakh metric tonnes of wheat this year in public and private sector. We have already completed the process of procuring two lakh tonnes of wheat from Russia under G2G agreement and hope to be shipped to our country within the period of June to August” he added.
Expert with the knowledge of food distribution management said strong distribution mechanism is necessary during the crisis period to reach food to the doorsteps of people in need.
According to the accounts of food ministry on May 12, there are some 12.78 lakh metric tonnes of food grains in the government storage which is 34 thousands metric tonnes of surplus than the last year storage. Of them, rice is 9 lakh metric tonnes and wheat is 2 lac 86 thousand metric tonnes.
sh/wi
