Govt to import 6 lakh tonnes of rice, wheat
Final price will be set before the food grains are imported
The government will import 4 lakh tonnes of wheat and 2 lakh tonnes of rice to ensure the country's food security.
In a meeting chaired by Finance and Commerce Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the decision on Wednesday (18 September).
Imports will be carried out within 15 days of submitting tenders on a government-to-government (G2G) basis.
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The adviser said the current stock of food grains in the country does not necessitate immediate imports.
"To prevent any potential food shortages, the government has decided to approve the import of wheat and rice. The aim is to reassure the public that there will be no shortage of fertilisers or food items," he added.
Regarding the prices of food grains, Dr Salehuddin said a provisional price has been set, but the final price will be determined before the imports are carried out.
The meeting also approved a proposal to shorten the timeframe for international tenders for rice and wheat imports from 42 days to 15 days. This new timeline starts from the date of the tender advertisement, reducing the supply obligation period.
Besides, the government has approved the G2G procurement of rice and a reduction in the procurement process timeframe in accordance with Rule 83 of the Public Procurement Rules 2008.
The imports will be conducted through G2G arrangements and international open tenders to maintain a functional distribution system and strengthen food security.
For the 2024-25 fiscal year, the target is to collect 3.5 lakh tonnes of rice from international sources and 19.23 lakh tonnes from domestic sources. The target for wheat is set at 7 lakh tonnes from international sources and 10,000 tonnes from domestic sources.
