Govt to procure 6 lakh tonnes paddy from farmers

The government will procure six lakh tonnes of Aman paddy directly from farmers at Tk26 per kilogram from November 20 to February 28 next.

Moreover, the government is set to buy 3.50 lakh metric tonnes of boiled rice from mill owners at Tk36 per kg, while 50,000 tonnes of non-boiled (atap) rice will be procured from the millers at Tk35 per kg.

The rice procurement drive will begin on December 1 and continue till February 28 next, reports BSS.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee at the Secretariat here on Thursday. 

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said considering the interest of farmers, the meeting has decided to procure six lakh tonnes of Aman paddy directly from farmers.

“We will also procure 3.50 lakh tonnes of boiled rice and 50,000 tonnes of non-boiled (atap) rice from the millers,” he added.

The food minister said local administrations will send the lists of farmers by November 10 this year and the lists will be uploaded in websites of union parishads.

After scrutinising the lists of upazila procurement committees, the paddy will be procured directly from the farmers as per the lists, he said.

Majumder said the Food-Friendly Progrmme of the government has been extended to seven months from five months marking the Mujib Year to be celebrated in the next year.

A total of 50,000 households are now getting rice at Tk10 per kg for seven months under the programme, he added.

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, lawmakers and senior officials of the Food Ministry were present at the meeting.