The Government launched the country-wide Open Market Sale (OMS) of rice on Sunday, 4 March. OMS is a public food distribution programme, which sells rice and wheat at subsidized prices. Under the programme, the price of rice was set at BDT 30 (USD 0.36) per kg for a maximum of 5 kg of rice per day to families with lower income. OMS also include the sale of wheat flour (atta) at a subsidized price of BDT 17 (USD 0.2) per kg. The programme will continue until harvesting of Boro crops in April, but will be extended if needed. In addition, under the Food-Friendly Programme, 5 million extreme poor families will be eligible to receive a maximum of 30 kg of rice per month at BDT 10 (USD 0.12) per kg from March to April and later this year from September to November. The measure aims to stabilise market prices, which in February were nearly 20 percent above their year-earlier values. The high level of prices (FPMA Price Warning) reflects an overall tight supply situation, after the 2017 flood-induced production losses exacerbated the already tight domestic availabilities following reduced production and imports in 2016 (FAO GIEWS Country Brief).