The government has fixed the government procurement price of Aman paddy, rice, and wheat for the current financial year. The government will procure a total of 0.95 million metric tonnes of food grains from farmers across the country in the current fiscal year from November 7.
The price of Aman paddy has been fixed at Tk 27 per kg, rice at Tk 40 per kg and wheat at Tk 28 per kg.
The decision was taken at a virtual meeting of the Food Planning and Containment Committee chaired by Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Sunday.
Around 3 lakh metric tonnes of Aman paddy, 5 lakh metric tonnes of rice will be collected during this season. Besides, it has been decided to procure 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of wheat from April 1, 2022.
Last year, the price of Aman paddy and rice was Tk 26 and Tk 36 respectively.
Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Fisheries and Animal Resources Minister SM Rezaul Karim and State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman spoke during the meeting.
In his speech, the food minister said, “The government wants to ensure fair prices for farmers. It also wants to increase food security stocks. The government has succeeded in collecting Boro paddy. It will be possible to achieve success in the collection of Aman also.”
Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque said agriculture depends on nature and region.
“Although paddy, onion, garlic, and many other agricultural products are produced in the country, farmers are deprived of fair prices due to a lack of conservation. Food security is being ensured in the country through increasing production despite declining agricultural land, increasing industrialization and, above all, increasing non-human consumption,” he said.
He further said that the cultivation of salinity tolerant paddy has already started in the southern part of the country.
He also mentioned that efforts are being made to make paddy production sustainable.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said Bangladesh exports a number of products, including food products.
“The export potential will be increased further if quality products are manufactured,” he said.
Senior secretaries of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and Chairman of the National Board of Revenue expressed their views and expressed satisfaction over the overall food situation.