Tk 8,322cr Allocated for Food Sector in FY26 Budget

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today proposed to allocate Taka 8,322 crore for the food sector in the financial year 2025-2026 (FY26) which is over Taka 460 more from the actual allocation of FY25. The finance adviser said this while presenting the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2025-26 in a pre-recorded broadcast on Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar. In the budget of FY 2024-25, the allocation for the food sector was Taka 6,638 while it was Taka 7,862 crore in the revised budget, Taka 1,224 crore more than the allocation. The Open Market Sale (OMS) and food-friendly programmes are being continued to alleviate poverty and ensure food security for the low-income people, said the finance adviser in his budget speech.

At present, the OMS activities are being conducted through 1,901 centers across the country. Under this initiative, 1.22 crore families are receiving five kilograms (Kgs) of rice per month at a subsidized rate of Taka 30 per kg. Besides, wheat is being distributed among the listed tea garden workers at the rate of Taka 19 per kg. In addition, under the Vulnerable Women Benefit (VWB) Programme, 10,40,000 destitute women are being provided with 30-kg of rice per month. Food subsidies will continue in the next fiscal year to ensure food security for the low-income people, said the adviser. To ensure food security as well as safe food, Dr Salehuddin said various  initiatives like purchase of paddy directly from farmers in all upazilas through 'Krishoker App (Farmers' App)', raise awareness, provide training to ensure safe food and instant sample testing through mobile laboratories are underway. Additionally, an action plan has been taken to increase the capacity of food  warehouses to 37 lakh metric tons and increase the institutional capacity of tonnage and food grain management in the next fiscal year.