All is set to arrive 1.5 lakh tones of wheat from Argentina and Russia to feed Bangladesh Army, Police and other ration getting forces, sources said.

The first consignment from Argentina of 50 thousand metric tone is expected to arrive by May first week while the remaining 1.0 metric tones will arrive by middle of May, Sarwar Kamal, Director General, Directorate of Food told Business Mirror, Monday

“It is essential to feed our armed forces who are busy with serving the nation during the pandemic,” the DG Food said

Asked about whether it hampers the supply due to Corona Virus Sarwar Kamal said the agreements with Brazil and Russia are government to government which shall not hampers any reason.

Explaining the prices of the Wheat Mr. Sarwar Kamal said Brazilian wheat are worth US$260 per metric ton while Russian are bit expensive with $267 per ton.

Meanwhile, the government will procure 11.5 lakh metric tonnes of rice (boiled and non-boiled) and six lakh metric tonnes of paddy during the current Boro season.

Besides, some 75,000 metric tonnes of wheat will be procured from the local markets in the season, the Food Ministry sources said.

The DG Food informed Business Mirror that the price has been set at Tk 36 per kg boiled rice, Tk 35 per kg Ata and Tk 26 per kg paddy.

Procurement of Boro paddy will start from April 26, while that of rice on May 7 next. But the collection of both paddy and rice will be completed on 31st  August, 2020.

Wheat will be collected from April 15 to June 30 next at Tk 28 per kg.

During the last Boro season, the government collected 14 lakh metric tonnes of rice and four lakh tones of paddy.

The government has a stock of 1.314 million tonnes of rice now, and its distribution under social safety-net has reached a new high. The government distributed 1.058 million tonnes of rice in the first seven months of the current financial year, 2019-20.

Aman output is expected to surpass 14.5 million tonnes this year, Agriculture Extension Department sources said.

Domestic procurement (rice, paddy, wheat) serves the dual purposes of building rice stocks for the Public Foodgrain Distribution System (PFDS) and of providing income support to farmers.

The National Food Policy Plan of Action (2008-2015) recognizes the importance of effectiveness of the public procurement system and providing support to producer.