The government will buy 1.7 million tonnes of paddy and rice from the domestic market in the coming boro season for ensuring food security.
The collection price of boro paddy has been fixed at Tk 27 per kg, boiled rice at Tk 40 and atap rice at Tk 39.
In the meantime, the target has been set to procure 6.50 lakh tonnes of paddy, 11 lakh tonnes of boiled rice and 50,000 tonnes of atap rice. The purchase will start from April 28 and will continue till August 31.
The decision was taken at a virtual meeting of the Food Planning and Containment Committee chaired by Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Thursday.
The collection price of paddy and rice was the same last year.
During the meeting, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said the price of coarse rice has not increased in the country's markets.
“Prices (of rice) have been declining for the past few weeks,” he said, adding that reliance on a fine variety of rice has increased as most of the coarse rice has gone into non-human consumption and people have changed their eating habits. Due to this, the price of fine rice has gone up a bit,” he explained.
He also drew the attention of the agriculture minister to take necessary steps to increase the production of fine paddy.
Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque said that all-out efforts have already been made to increase agricultural production.
Production of two newly invented varieties BRRI-89 and BRRI-92 Boro paddy is being expanded, he said, adding that, “The production of this species will be higher and the rice will be thinner. Cultivation of high yielding paddy is also being increased to rise food production.”
Dr MD Enamur Rahman, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief of Bangladesh, said, “Considering the current market situation, it has been reasonable to set procurement targets and prices. This will ensure a fair price for the farmer's crop.”
Abdur Rouf Talukder, Senior Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Dr Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum, Secretary of Ministry of Food and Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam also spoke on the occasion.
