The government has started procurement of paddy directly from farmers at Tk 27 per kg, said Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, reports UNB.
Besides, the government will start rice procurement from May 07 and it will continue until August 31, he said.
The food minister inaugurated the programme through a video conference held at the conference room of the Food Department.
Issuing a note of warning, Sadhan said the ministry will keep vigil to stop hoarding of paddy.
He also urged the mill owners to complete their deal with the Food Department by May 7-16 to procure rice as the duration of the procurement will not be extended.
Public representatives of Tangail, Naogaon, Dinajpur, Sunamganj, Mymensingh, Brahmanbaria, Barishal, Jhenaidah districts, high official concerned of local administration, officials of Food Department, mill owners and farmers' representatives joined the event virtually.
On February 24, the government set a target to procure 0.65 million tonnes of of Boro paddy and 1.1 million tonnes of boiled rice and 50,000 tonnes of non-boiled rice in upcoming season in 2022.
The procurement price of Boro paddy has been fixed at Tk 27 per kg, boiled rice at Tk 40 per kg and Atap rice (non-boiled) at Tk 39.
The decision was taken at a virtual meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee with Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder in the chair.
