The government started procuring boro paddy directly from farmers at Tk 27 per kilogram.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder inaugurated the nationwide procurement of boro paddy through a videoconference from the Directorate General of Food in Dhaka on Thursday.

Speaking at the inaugural programme, the food minister said, “No one can buy and stockpile paddy without licence. The paddy traders have to inform the food department about their buying and selling statistics. And food department officials should send this information to the department regularly.”

The minister warned that it would be closely monitored whether anyone was stockpiling illegally.

“Although the procurement of paddy has started all over the country today (Thursday), the procurement of rice will start from May 7,” he said.

“The mill owners have to sign an agreement with the Food Department during May 7-16. The time for signing the agreement will not be extended any way,” he added.

The minister directed the food department officials to carry out the collection activities as per the plan without rushing towards the end of the collection season.

 Sadhan Chandra Majumder also directed them to keep a watchful eye on the farmers so that they would not be subjected to any kind of harassment while providing paddy in the warehouses.

He also warned that no compromise will be made with the quality of paddy and rice. Dr Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum, Secretary of the Ministry of Food, chaired the event while Shakhawat Hossain, Director General of Food, Abdullah Al Mamun, Additional Director General (C.C.), and Raihanul Kabir, Director (procurement division), among others, were also present.               The government will procure 1.1 million tonnes of rice, 650,000 tonnes of paddy and 50,000 tonnes of Atap rice directly from the farmers.

The Ministry of Food will procure paddy at Tk 27 per kg, rice at Tk 40 per kg and Atap rice at Tk 39 per kg.