For the first time, the government has decided to export 50,000 tonnes of coarse rice to Sri Lanka with setting the export price at $450 per tonne.
Food Minister Quamrul Islam, also chairman of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC), made the disclosure yesterday after a meeting of the committee held at the ministry’s conference room.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury were, among others, present.
The food minister said the government had also decided to procure around 300,000 tonnes of rice (Aman) at a cost of Tk32 per kilogram this year.
“We wanted to export rice at a price more than $450 per tonne, but Sri Lanka did not agree on it. We later decided to export rice at the price they offered,” he said, adding that a Sri Lankan team would arrive here within 10-12 days and a contract would be signed in this regard.
“This coarse rice is being sold for Tk30 per kg in local market while Sri Lanka is buying it at a cost of Tk35 per kg,” he added.
The minister informed that 14 lakh tonnes of food grains (rice and wheat) are now in stock, up three lakh tonnes than last year.
He claimed, “The country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has become self-sufficient in food.”
Asked why the country imports rice from India even after being self-sufficient in food, the minister said three to four lakh tonnes of fine rice (Bashmoti) are imported for ceremonial purposes.
“You know that we need three to four crore tonnes of rice a year. In comparison with requirement, a small quantity of rice is imported from India,” he clarified.
He said the government would procure rice at a cost of Tk32 per kg while the production cost was Tk28. Last year, the government procured rice at a cost of Tk30 per kg.
The minister informed that the food procurement drive would start from November 15 and continue till February 28.
The government had set a target of producing around 1.30 crore tonnes of Aman this year. Last year, the government produced 1.30 tonnes of Aman against the target of 1.32 tonnes crore.
While briefing reporters, the food minister said, “We set a target of producing 11 lakh tonnes of Boro. But we have been able to produce 10.61 lakh tonnes.”