Trackback URL
Download PDF Shifting from its earlier estimate, the government yesterday came up with a fresh calculation, saying import of 14.20 lakh tonnes of rice, and not 31 lakh tonnes, is needed to meet the domestic deficit due to crop damage in floods and cyclone.
On Saturday, the agriculture ministry at a press conference in presence of the adviser said 31 lakh tonnes of rice have to be imported from the international market in the current fiscal year.
But within five days, the agriculture and food advisers at a joint press briefing yesterday reduced the import requirement to 14.20 lakh tonnes.
Agriculture Adviser CS Karim and Food Adviser Tapan Chowdhury neither pointed out any specific reason for such a huge reduction, nor did they admit the previous estimate was wrong.
The agriculture and food ministries jointly organised the press briefing to update food grain production, import and distribution situation in the country this fiscal year.
“Import requirement changes every day and that is why we can say the latest figure is also correct,” Karim said.
Food Secretary Aiyub Mia however tried to justify the fresh import requirement of rice saying there is no difference between Saturday’s estimate and the new one if import of wheat is considered.
But on Saturday, the agriculture ministry did not say anything on wheat import.
In their latest estimate, the food and agriculture ministries said the domestic demand for rice this fiscal year is 285.20 lakh tonnes while net production in the country will be 271 lakh tonnes. “Thus, we will have a deficit of 14.20 lakh tonnes,” Golam Kibria, senior information officer of the food ministry, told reporters citing official data.
In Saturday’s report, the agriculture ministry put the demand for rice this fiscal year at 302 lakh tonnes, and net production at 271 lakh tonnes, the same as yesterday’s.
Yesterday’s report on food status in the country and import requirement figures raised questions about government data.
On Saturday, the agriculture ministry said 12 lakh tonnes of rice have been imported in the current fiscal year, and import of another 19 lakh tonnes is needed.
Golam Kibria said yesterday, “To meet the deficit, seven lakh tonnes of rice have already been imported this fiscal year, and import of 7.20 lakh tonnes more is needed.”
On wheat, he said the domestic demand stands at 24 lakh tonnes while its production is estimated to be 8.90 lakh tonnes, leaving a deficit of 15.10 lakh tonnes. “The deficit will be met through import.”
He went on, “In the current fiscal year, 9.20 lakh tonnes of wheat have already been imported, and we need to import another 6.40 lakh tonnes.”
India has recently agreed to lift the ban on export of five lakh tonnes of rice only to Bangladesh considering the crop damage in cyclone.
Referring to the Indian offer, Tapan Chowdhury told the press briefing yesterday that the Indian side has asked for import of rice through government bodies. “We want our private traders, certified by the food directorate, to import the rice,” he said,
The foreign adviser, now in Delhi on a visit, will raise the issue with his Indian counterpart, Tapan mentioned.
Bangladesh sought food aid of five lakh tonnes from the donors. The food secretary told newsmen that Saudi Arabia, India and Pakistan have so far agreed to provide two lakh tonnes.
Comments are not moderated and only expresses personal views of visitors. BangladeshNews.com.bd is not responsible for commets posted by visitors.
Leave a Reply