The government has extended time for the Boro procurement drive by two weeks to August 31 aiming to attain its target shortfall.
The countrywide grain purchase drive during Boro season by the Directorate General of Food (DGoF) kicked off from April 28 last and the deadline ended on August 16.
Until August 16, the DGoF purchased above 71 per cent of the targeted grain against its 1.9 million tonnes of procurement goal, said officials.
The Directorate General of Food (DGoF) had a target to buy 1.15 million tonnes of rice from millers at Tk 39-40 a kg, 0.65 million tonnes of paddy at Tk 27 a kg, and also 0.1 million tonnes of wheat at Tk 28 during the Boro procurement season.
The asking price for rice was raised by Tk 3.0 a kg and paddy by Tk 1.0 a kg this season than that if its previous to encourage millers and farmers in public procurement.
Meanwhile, the DGoF has been able to purchase 0.91 million tonnes of their targeted rice within the first deadline.
The Directorate could purchase 0.345 million tonnes of paddy from the farmers during the period.
However, the wheat purchase was a success as it surpassed the target by above 3,000 tonnes, said the officials.
Following a target shortfall of rice and paddy, the food ministry has given the DGoF a two-week extension, Md Moniruzzaman, additional director (procurement) at the Directorate said.
Mr. Moniruzzaman said they are expecting to fullfil rice buying target within August 31.
The DGoF official said the public warehouses have now a handsome food stock of 1.64 million tonnes of which rice and paddy is 1.37 million tonnes.
There is no shortage of rice as local production in the Boro season was also a bumper one, he said.
