The government has set a target to procure 30,323 tonnes of the newly harvested wheat in Rajshahi division during the current season which will ultimately supplement its efforts to tackle the COVID-19 situation, reports BSS.
“We have already procured 6,470.05 tonnes of the targeted wheat from all eight districts in the division till Saturday last,” said Raihanul Kabir, Regional Controller of Food, expecting over attainment of the target.
Meanwhile, farmers have harvested around five lakh tonnes of wheat from about 1.40 lakh hectares of land in all eight districts in the division during the recent past harvesting season.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said the growers were seen delighted as they got good yield due to favourable weather conditions everywhere in the region, including its vast Barind tract. They are also getting a fair price for their produce this season at the present change coupled with a troubled situation.
The food department has also sold 12,555.43 tonnes of flour among the jobless and less-income people at Taka 18 per kilogram through 54 dealers in the division till the same day to tackle the present livelihood related hardships caused by the pandemic.
On the other hand, procurement drive of the newly harvested Boro rice is going on in full swing everywhere in the division. “We have already procured 24,706.80 tonnes of boiled rice and 1,029.72 tonnes of non-boiled rice till Saturday last,” said Raihanul Kabir, adding the government has set a target of procuring 2,62,731 tonnes of Boro rice in the division during the current season.
“We will procure 2,39,067 tonnes of boiled rice at the rate of Taka 36 per kilogram while 23,664 tonnes of non-boiled rice at Taka 35 per kilogram under the present rice procurement drive,” added Kabir.
He said contracts have been signed with 5,136 millers for collecting 2,31,657 tonnes of boiled rice while 157 other millers signed contracts for supplying 20,810.81 tonnes of non-boiled rice. The enlisted millers are supplying rice according to the terms and condition of the contract.
“We have set a target to procure 1,42,495 tonnes of paddy at the rate of Taka 26 per kilogram,” Raihanul Kabir said, adding that 417.21 tonnes of rice and 44.88 tonnes of paddy will be procured directly from the farmers.
Kabir said 71,312.64 tonnes of aman rice has also been procured till the same day. The officials are very much hopeful about attaining the entire procurement targets especially Boro rice in the division during the current season as a bumper production of Boro paddy has been seen throughout the region this year. The procured food grains will help supplement the government efforts of battling against the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DAE has set a target of producing around 34.30 lakh tonnes of Irri-boro rice from 8.08 lakh hectares of land during the current season in the division.
