Govt to procure 3 lakh tonnes Aman paddy, 5 lakh tonnes rice

The government will procure three lakh metric tonnes of paddy and five lakh tonnes of rice from local markets during the ongoing Aman season.

The decision was taken on Sunday at a virtual meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee Unit (FPMCU) with Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder in the chair.

The food grains procurement drive will begin on November 7 next. 

The paddy will be procured at Taka 27 per kg, while the price of rice is fixed at Taka 40 per kg.

The government fixed the price of paddy at Taka 26 per kg, while rice at Taka 36 per kg in the last Aman season.

Besides, during the meeting, it was decided to procure 1.5 lakh tonnes of wheat at Taka 28 per kg from April 1 next year.

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim and State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman, among others, spoke at the meeting. 

Sadhan Chandra Majumder said apart from increasing food stock to ensure the country's food security, the government wants to ensure fair price of crops of farmers. 

Noting that the government successfully completed the boro procurement, he hoped that it would be able to complete the Aman procurement too.

Abdur Razzaque said despite shrinking arable land due to rapid urbanisation and increasing non-human consumption, the country's food security is being ensured by increasing crop production. 

Source: BSS