Rajesh Rai  | Phuentsholing

The Food Corporation of Bhutan Limited (FCBL) has enough essentials stocked.

Rice, oil and pulses are the three main essentials as per the National Food Security Reserve (NFSR).

The corporation’s chief executive officer (CEO), Naiten Wangchuk, said that including the recent import, 6,290 metric tonnes (MT) of rice, 442MT of oil, and 75MT of pulses were stocked up.

“This is enough for a week’s lockdown,” the CEO said. “Unlike during the first nationwide lockdown in Bhutan, there isn’t lockdown in India this time and importing should not be a problem.”

Naiten Wangchuk said that the FCB stock was for the 50 percent of the population as per the standard norms. The wholesalers and stores are expected to have stock for the other 50 percent.

The government had also provided loans to several wholesale dealers and grocery stores to stock up.

FCBL has stocked up 21,013MT of rice, 1,979MT of oil and 682MT of pulses this year after the border gates were sealed on March 23.

Of the total, Naiten Wangchuk said that 70 percent of the rice stock, 77 percent of oil, and 89 percent of pulses were sold out.

The current stock, he said, is the balance from the total.

FCBL has stock of fast moving commodity goods such as salt, sugar and flour. It also has stock of 124MT of salt, 99MT sugar, and 95MT of flour.