Budget FY22: Two million tons of rice to be procured from local sources

The government has set a target to procure 2.055 million tons of rice from local sources in the 2021-22 fiscal year, amid the concern on food security during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The government will take all possible measures to achieve the target to ensure food security," Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said this while presenting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year in the parliament on Thursday.

Although food security was likely to be threatened, he said, due to the interruption caused by the pandemic in the production and supply system of foodgrains, Bangladesh did not have to face any problem thanks to the timely decision taken by the government.

The decision of procuring the rice comes at a time when the food reserve has hit the lowest in recent years.

Figures posted on the Food Ministry's website show that the grain stock in government warehouses until April 22 stood at 493,000 ton, of which rice accounts for 305,000 ton.

Grain stock stood at 1.12 million ton in July last year.