Rice Stock Halves in Three Months: Concerns Over Food Crisis

Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh’s government rice stock has nearly halved over the past three months, raising concerns about a possible food crisis. On August 11, when Dr. Yunus’s interim government assumed office, the stock was close to 1.3 million tons. By August 28, it rose to 1.456 million tons following a procurement drive. However, as of November 19, it dropped to 808,000 tons, and last Sunday’s data shows the stock at just 772,000 tons.

According to Food Ministry statistics, this marks a decline of about 47% since August 28. Experts blame the drop on delays in rice imports and extensive distribution through government food programs.

Although no official imports have begun, about 10,000 tons of rice have been brought in privately. This has left the government heavily reliant on domestic procurement. Agricultural economists argue that if the government had collected at least 1.5 million tons of rice, the market would have been more stable.

Despite new Aman rice entering the market, price fluctuations persist. Over the last week, the price of coarse rice has dropped by Tk 1-2 per kilogram, but medium and fine rice prices remain unchanged.

In 2023, government rice stock during this period was over 1.62 million tons, highlighting a significant reduction. The Food Ministry has set a production target of 17.8 million tons of rice this year to stabilize demand and reserves. However, experts warn that any further delays in addressing the situation may worsen the crisis.