Rice procurement has been started from millers during the Boro season this year. Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder inaugurated the 'Nationwide Boro Rice Collection-2021' virtually on Saturday.
The government is collecting 10 lakh tonnes of rice at Tk 40 per kg and 150,000 tonnes of Atap rice at Tk 39 per kg this season.
The minister said, "Since April 28, we have started buying paddy directly from farmers. We have already held online meetings with district administration and food department officials and mill owners' representatives in six divisions. There are various directions given to the field level officers and employees regarding the ongoing Boro rice collection.”
“A plan has also been made for the amount to be collected in a month. In addition, the division process has been completed and sent to the district food regulators as per the policy for agreement with the mill owners. Today (Sunday) is the last day of the contract. The contract will not be extended in any way,” the minister further said.
He also said, “In the procurement drive, the farmers are going directly to the warehouses and selling paddy. The millers have signed an agreement with the food department to supply rice.”
He instructed the officials and employees to keep eye so that the farmers do not face any kind of harassment while giving paddy in the warehouse. At the same time thinking of the interests of the farmer, he said that they should give priority in buying paddy and rice in order to ensure fair price.
