The government will procure at least 18 lakh tonnes food grains from the internal markets during the current Boro season.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said this in a virtual press conference held this morning here today, reports BSS.
Of the food grains procurement, 11.50 lakh tonnes are Atap and parboiled rice and the rest 6.50 lakh tonnes paddy.
The boro paddy procurement drive will begin from April 28 and the rice from May 7. The procurement drive will continue till August 31.
Under the procurement drive, the food minister said a total of 10 lakh tonnes parboiled rice will be procured with a price of Taka 40 per kg and Taka 39 has been fixed for purchasing 1.50 lakh tonnes Atap rice. The government will procure paddy from the farmers with a price of Taka 27 per kg.
Following a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee Unit (FPMCU) on April 22, the food minister said the decision has been taken for providing a fair price to the farmers for cultivating boro crops.
Even the Prime Minister has approved the decision, he said.
Last year, the government procured 6 lakh tonnes boro paddy with a price of Taka 26 per kg and 11 lakh tonnes rice with a price of Taka 36 per kg.