Food grain stocks rise by 148,000 metric tonnes in six months

After the BNP government took office, the country’s public food grain stocks have increased as part of efforts to ensure food security. On February 10 this year, the government’s food grain stock stood at 2.21 million metric tonnes. By September 9, it had risen to 2.359 million metric tonnes. In other words, government food grain stocks increased by 148,484 metric tonnes during this period.

Not only have stocks increased, but the country’s food storage capacity has also been expanded. Previously, the storage capacity was around 2.4 million metric tonnes. However, at the special initiative of the BNP, a plan has been taken to increase it to 3.4 million metric tonnes within the next five years. The capacity has already been raised to 2.7 million metric tonnes.

The BNP government has also taken an initiative to increase the safe food stock level, in addition to increasing food stocks and storage capacity. Previously, a stock of 1.35 million metric tonnes was considered the safe level. Under the new government led by Tarique Rahman, the safe level has been raised to 1.6 million metric tonnes.

Officials concerned at the Ministry of Food said that there is currently no concern over food availability in the country because of the government’s food-friendly policies.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Food and the Directorate General of Food, the government food grain stock is currently at a satisfactory level. Of the total stock, rice accounts for 2.036 million metric tonnes, wheat for 232,183 metric tonnes and paddy for 34,070 metric tonnes.

Including floating stocks, the total government food grain stock stands at 2,359,154 metric tonnes. Of this, 68,723 metric tonnes of wheat are classified as floating stock.

Earlier, around the first anniversary of the interim government on August 4, 2025, Bangladesh's public stock of rice and wheat stood at 2.131 million metric tonnes. At that time, the government stock included 1.954 million tonnes of rice and 177,000 tonnes of wheat. Compared with that figure, the total government food grain stock has now increased by 228,154 metric tonnes.

The upward trend in food grain stocks becomes even clearer when compared with the period of the Awami League government.

According to comparative statistics for the same period from the Ministry of Food, the country’s food grain stock stood at 1,684,330 metric tonnes in 2024. This means the current government stock has increased by around 675,000 tonnes compared with 2024.

Those concerned said that adequate food stocks would play an important role in maintaining normal supplies in the domestic market, keeping prices stable and dealing with any emergency situation.

Meanwhile, significant progress has also been made in the ongoing Boro procurement programme. As of September 9, 2026, a total of 1,683,195 metric tonnes of food grains, including paddy and rice, had been procured under the 2025-26 fiscal year’s Boro procurement programme.

Of this, 578,140 metric tonnes of paddy, 1,201,568 metric tonnes of parboiled rice and 105,313 metric tonnes of non-parboiled rice have been procured. In addition, 523 metric tonnes of wheat have been procured.

Import trades are also continuing to address food grain shortages and strengthen the stock situation.
From July 1 to September 9, 2026, a total of 827,700 metric tonnes of food grains were imported through both government and private initiatives in the current 2026-27 fiscal year. Of this, 65,860 metric tonnes were imported by the government, while 761,840 metric tonnes were imported by the private sector.

Officials of the Ministry of Food said the government is working under an integrated plan covering production, procurement, imports and stockpiling to ensure food security for the people. The stock situation is being monitored regularly to ensure an adequate supply of food for the population.

The current stock is nearly 1 million metric tonnes higher than the traditionally accepted safe food stock level of 1.35 million metric tonnes. As a result, the country’s food security system is currently in a strong position. However, considering population growth and food consumption, the government has taken an initiative to raise the safe food stock level to 1.6 million metric tonnes.

At the same time, the government has set a target of increasing the overall food grain storage capacity of government warehouses to 3.4 million metric tonnes within the next five years. The Ministry of Food has already begun Food storage capacity work to implement this target.

Relevant departments of the Ministry of Food said food grain stocks and procurement activities are being closely monitored to ensure adequate supplies in the domestic market, keep prices stable and ensure uninterrupted food distribution under social safety-net programmes.

Mohammad Kamrul Islam Chowdhury, Joint Secretary of the Procurement Wing of the Ministry of Food, said the ongoing domestic food grain procurement drive is being implemented successfully and satisfactorily this season. He thanked the farmers involved in the process as well as all other stakeholders.

He further said there are currently adequate and safe stocks of rice and wheat in government food warehouses. These stocks will serve as a strong foundation for dealing with any situation and ensuring national food security.

Kamrul Islam Chowdhury said the government is fully prepared to keep rice prices stable in the market and continue food distribution under social safety-net programmes.

Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Director General of the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) of the Ministry of Food, said the government is continuously working to adjust food grain stocks and storage capacity in line with the growing national demand.

He further said the country received adequate rainfall this year. As a result, the government is hopeful that the desired target for Aman cultivation will be achieved. Therefore, the government expects Aman procurement to exceed its target, just as it did during the Boro season.

Mahbubur Rahman said wheat prices in the international market are gradually increasing, which could raise import costs. However, as an alternative to wheat, the government has a contingency plan to provide rice under the Food-Friendly Programme. Therefore, given the government’s current position, there is no possibility of any crisis or problem.
Regarding food procurement and supply management, Mohammad Jamal Hossain, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Food, said the country’s current food security situation is highly satisfactory.

He said the highest priority is being given not only to ensuring adequate food grain stocks in government warehouses but also to proper storage and maintaining food quality.

He said the procurement of Boro paddy and rice from marginal farmers is being conducted across the country through a transparent and well-organised process. As a result, farmers are receiving fair prices for their paddy and rice.

Jamal Hossain said supply systems from government food warehouses remain active to keep food distribution programmes such as the Open Market Sale (OMS) and the Food-Friendly Programme operational.

He said the country’s food grain storage capacity was previously around 2.4 million metric tonnes. It has now increased to 2.7 million metric tonnes.

He said work is underway to increase the government’s food grain storage capacity to 3.4 million metric tonnes within the next five years, adding that this is one of the targets announced in the current government’s election manifesto.

He further said that although 1.35 million metric tonnes had long been considered the benchmark for safe food stocks in the country, the current government has decided to raise the safe food stock target to 1.6 million metric tonnes, taking into account population growth and the expansion of social safety-net programmes.