The production of Aman paddy has increased due to favourable weather. The government has fixed reasonable prices for Aman paddy and rice this year.
Giving warning against negligence in procurement drive Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said that no irregularities will be tolerated in procurement of Aman and urged the Food Department officials to be more active in making the Aman procurement drive a success. The minister was virtually speaking as the chief guest at a review meeting of Chittagong and Sylhet divisions on ‘Progress of Internal Aman Collection 2021-22’ from his secretariat office on Monday.
The food minister said the food department officials should be careful so that farmers are not harassed while selling paddy to the food warehouses. Noting that it would be difficult to carry out the Aman procurement campaign without a definite plan, he directed the officials to send the plan for procurement of Aman paddy and rice for the months of December and January to the Food Department.
The minister said, “The procurement drive in several districts was satisfactory and more allocations had already been made in all those districts. If the quality of rice is not good, we should be careful not to let the rice enter the food warehouses. No negligence will be tolerated in the collection of Aman.”
He added that, “Regular market monitoring is being done with the help of district administration to keep the rice market stable. Besides the wholesale market, monitoring of mill gates, warehouses and retail markets should also be increased.”
Food Secretary Dr Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum presided over the function while director general of Food Department Sheikh Mojibur Rahman and Additional Secretary Md Abdul Hannan also spoke at the meeting.
Divisional commissioners of Chittagong and Sylhet divisions, deputy commissioners, officials of agriculture department, field level officials of food department, farmers’ representatives and mill owners’ representatives were virtually connected to the meeting.