BD searches alternative sources for import of wheat

Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh decided to search alternative overseas sources to meet demands for wheat, even with higher cost, as the Russia-Ukraine war created obstacles of importing the country’s second major food grains from these two wheat producing countries.
Muhammad Mahbubur Rahman, Senior Assistant Secretary (External Procurement), Ministry of Food told journalists, “We could not import wheat from Russia and Ukraine due to the ongoing war between the two countries. In these circumstances, we have allowed private sector to explore new sources even if it cost a bit high.”
Mahbubur Rahman said, “Meanwhile, the private importers signed deals for importing 6.5 lakh tonnes of wheat from Bulgaria, Romania and even from Russia. Through these agreements, we have received 3.13 lakh tonnes of wheat so far.”
Besides, 52,500 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat also reached on Chattogram Port on Thursday.
The official said, “We have expected the rest of the volume to arrive by the end of December this year.”
The country is now looking for new countries including Canada for importing wheat.
As per the official data, Bangladesh grows 10 lakh tonnes of wheat annually on average against its demand for 75 lakh tonnes and 62 per cent of the imported wheat comes from Russia, Ukraine and India.
Meanwhile, India has stopped wheat exporting due to the global crisis.
On the other hand, Russia had halted its wheat exports across the world.
Meanwhile, the country temporarily eased the restriction in principle under which Bangladesh received a consignment of one lakh tonnes of wheat in May this year.
Bangladesh also received 46,655 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat in May.
‘From then on no wheat was available from either of the countries,’ an official said.
In this situation, wheat price has increased abnormally in the past several months affecting the prices of ata.
It also played role of increasing prices of bakery items like loaf, breads, biscuits and such others.
The average per tonne wheat price in international market till Wednesday was US dollar 353.67 which was US dollar 258.68 in 2021.
Wheat importers said hiking wheat price in the international market created a challenge, while devalution of Bangladesh currency has aggravated the crisis.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, meanwhile, said the government by now took all necessary steps to boost up the domestic food supply through raising import and food procurement to prevent any pandemic like situation amid the current global crisis.
The Minister said the volume of Aman, the second major rice verity, was likely to be more than expectation when it would be harvested next month.
The country primarily depends on Boro for its main staple rice which is harvested in between April and June and planted from December to early February while 55 per cent of the total rice production comes from Boro.
He said that the country also planned to procure more rice and wheat from abroad in a bid to ensuring food security in any means.
 The Minister said that the ministry will enforce monitoring in different food markets across the country so that none could create artificial food crisis.
He said the government approved 10 lakh tonnes of rice import, while over 5.50 lakh tonnes had already arrived and the rest 4.50 lakh tonnes will reach by the year end.
As per the official data, the country’s overall food grain stock in public sector is now over 15.83 lakh tonnes — over 13.64 lakh tonnes rice, over 2.10 lakh tonnes wheat and 12,074 tonnes of paddy.