The government of Bangladesh has finalised an extensive procurement plan for the ongoing Boro season, setting both collection targets and prices for paddy, rice and wheat, with a nationwide drive scheduled to begin on 3 May.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC) held at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday, chaired by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. Senior ministers and officials from relevant ministries were present at the meeting.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Press Information Department (PID) after the meeting, the home minister said the procurement campaign will continue until 31 August. Under the programme, food grains will be collected directly from farmers across the country at government-fixed prices through the Ministry of Food.
According to the announced plan, the government has set the procurement price of paddy at Tk36 per kg. Parboiled rice will be purchased at Tk49 per kg, while non-parboiled (atap) rice has been fixed at Tk48 per kg. The price of wheat has also been set at Tk36 per kg.
In terms of volume, the government has set a procurement target of 5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, around 12 to 12.5 lakh metric tonnes of parboiled rice, and 1 lakh metric tonnes of atap rice. Wheat procurement targets vary slightly in the plans, with figures indicating between 5,000 tonnes and up to 50,000 tonnes depending on requirements and sourcing conditions.
Overall, the total procurement target for food grains during the current Boro season stands at around 18.1 lakh metric tonnes, while broader annual planning puts total rice procurement needs at approximately 24 to 25 lakh metric tonnes.
The committee also reviewed the country’s overall food stock situation, including buffer stock levels, safety reserves and potential import requirements. At present, public food grain stock stands at around 17 to 18 lakh metric tonnes.
The home minister said there is no immediate shortage of rice production in the country, and imports are not necessary at this stage. However, the government is prepared to import if needed to maintain adequate reserves and ensure food security.
Regarding wheat, he noted that Bangladesh typically imports through government-to-government arrangements, including existing agreements with the United States, while open tenders may also be considered if required.
Highlighting the production outlook, Salahuddin Ahmed said the country’s annual rice demand is around 4.24 crore metric tonnes and expressed optimism that this year’s output could exceed targets due to favourable weather conditions and the absence of major natural disasters so far.
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