WFP, Thailand to rush rice to avert food crisis

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Tự Hào Gentraco

Tue, 22/05/2012 - 7:26 am.

WFP, Thailand to rush rice to avert food crisis

DHAKA: Fearing a fallout from the looming severe food crisis in Bangladesh, the World Food Programme (WFP) and Thailand have assured immediate steps to assist Bangladesh in procuring 600,000 tons of rice as soon as possible.
WFP and Thailand assurance came as the country is facing serious food deficit and rice price has already increased abnormally.
Of the quantity, the WFP will supply 5,00,000 tons while Thailand will export 1,00,000 tons.
The crisis has also prompted Army chief General Moeen U Ahmed to make a frantic appeal to all to help lower prices of essentials including rice.
Besides, WFP will dispatch some 30,000 metric tons of rice to Bangladesh, which will reach the country in February to mitigate sufferings of the victims of Cyclone Sidr.

Thailand also has floated a tender to export 100,000 metric tons of rice, including 50,000 tons non-basmati rice.
The assurances were made by representatives of the UN system and the Ambassador of Thailand during separate meetings with Foreign Affairs Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury in Dhaka on Thursday.
After the meeting, acting country director of UNDP Monoj Basnyat told reporters that they reviewed the possibility of procurement of rice and how the UN system could be used to assist the country in procuring 500,000 tons of rice as soon as possible.
They also discussed the procedural matters in procuring the rice and its early shipment.
WFP representative Douglas Brodrick said: “We had useful discussion on procurement of 500,000 metric tons of rice following the chief adviser’s request.”
He said both short and long-term measures came up for discussion to meet the shortfall. More discussion will take place with government officials to finalise the procedure of procurement.
Brodrick said WFP would dispatch 30,000 metric tons of rice to Dhaka in February to feed the cyclone victims.
Acting representative of FAO Lalita Bhattacharya was also present at the meeting.
The foreign adviser said: “UN is ready to help” and WFP would be useful for quick procurement and delivery of the required quantum of rice if funds are made available to them.
Asked about the import of rice from India, Iftekhar said the chief adviser is going to hold meetings with the advisers to discuss the entire issue of importing the rice.
Later, Thai Ambassador Chalermpol Thanchitt, who met the adviser, told the reporters that they are in a position to export 100,000 metric tons of rice, including 50,000 tons non-basmati rice.
The tender has already been floated, he said, adding that the Thai exporters would be interested in participating in the tender.
Replying to a question, the foreign adviser said he was told that it would take two weeks for shipment of rice from Thailand to Bangladesh after completion of all the process