Govt to procure 8 lakh tonnes of food grains during Aman season

Staff Reporter :
The government has decided to procure eight lakh tonnes of food grains, while paddy at TK 28 per kg and rice at TK 42 per kg from the local markets during the ongoing Aman season.
Apart from this, Agriculture Minister said that the government would continue providing subsidies in agriculture and not a penny will be reduced in this sector.
The decision was taken on Tuesday at a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee Unit (FPMCU) held in the Cabinet Division conference room with Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder in the chair.
Among others, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Health Minister Zahid Maleque and State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman attended the meeting.
As per decision, the government will procure three lakh tonnes of paddy and five lakh tonnes of rice from the local markets during the Aman season.
“The food grains procurement drive will begin on November 10. We procured paddy at Tk 27 per kg, while the rice at Tk 40 per kg last year. This time, we have increased price of paddy and rice by taka one and taka two per kg respectively to encourage the farmers. We will procure paddy at TK 28 per kg, while rice at TK 42 per kg in this year’s Aman season,” Sadhan Chandra Majumder told reporters after the meeting. However, the government had procured paddy at Tk 26 per kg, while rice at Tk 36 per kg in 2020 Aman season.
The government has not been purchasing paddy and rice through middlemen in the last 3-4 years, the Food Minister said in reply to a query adding that paddy and rice are being purchased directly from the farmers through apps.Sadhan Chandra Majumder said apart from increasing food stock to ensure the country’s food security, the government wants to ensure fair price of crops of farmers.
The Food Minister said if the government fails to meet the target, it will import the food grains to increase supply to the domestic market.
He also reiterated that the country will not face any food crisis. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed to continue providing subsidies in agriculture as much as it is required, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said on Tuesday.
“Whatever the amount needed, the government will manage it anyhow. Not a penny will be reduced in subsidies on agriculture,” the minister said, quoting the Prime Minister when journalists drew his attention to the IMF recommendation on cutting subsidies in agriculture.
After the FPMC meeting, the Agriculture Minister said that the government provided Tk46,000 crore in subsidy on fertiliser in the last six months, which is Tk18,000 crore more compared to the same period last year. The government provided Tk28,000 crore in subsidies in the first six months last year.