Boro procurement begins

Staff Reporter :
The Ministry of Food directed the administration and Directorate General of Food officials not to allow anyone, who doesn’t have a licence for buying and storing food grain, to buy paddy from the market during this Boro season.

“It must be ensured that no one who doesn’t have a licence for buying and storing food grain is allowed to buy paddy from the market in this Boro season. If necessary, the government will buy paddy double than its procurement target, so that farmers can get fair price of their crops,” Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said this while briefing media in his office at the Secretariat after inaugurating the internal Boro paddy, rice and wheat procurement drive in all 64 districts being connected virtually on Sunday.
The minister also asked all to ensure that no one can hoard rice and paddy illegally.

He also asked the DG Food authority not to sign contract with those millers, who didn’t supply rice to the godowns despite signing agreements in last season or before. “However, the millers who supplied at least 50 percent of rice would be allowed to sign agreement and get their deposits back. Those who have supplied less than 50 percent rice will not get deposit back, but will be allowed to sign agreement.”
In this Boro season, the DG Food authority will buy paddy at Tk30 per kilogram while coarse rice at Tk44 and wheat at Tk35 per kg from the local market.

According to the procurement plan of the government, the authority will buy a total of 16.50 lakh tonnes of paddy and rice from local production to ensure incentive for the farmers. Of those, four lakh tonnes paddy and 12.50 lakh tonnes rice would be procured. One lakh tonnes of wheat would also be purchased.

Sadhan Chandra Majumder said, “We have a procurement plan to buy four lakh tonnes of paddy and 12.50 lakh tonnes of rice from local market. The authority will ensure proper monitoring during this season, so that no one can buy paddy and stock illegally to manipulate the market. If necessary, the DG Food authority will buy paddy double than the procurement plan to ensure proper price due to lack of buyers.”
“Paddy and rice would be bought at all government food godowns. Local food procurement advisory committee including administration and public representatives must have to ensure strict monitoring in the market to prevent errant traders from manipulating the market,” he said, adding, “We have seen that a section of traders control the markets, so that farmers cannot pocket their profits. But, the government fails to achieve the target. If we continue buying, they wouldn’t be able to fraud the farmers.”
Giving clarification of increasing the prices of fertilizer, paddy and rice, Sadhan Chandra Majumder said, “When we increased fertiliser price, farmers said that they will need extra Tk665 for per bigha land. Considering the matter, the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC) decided to increase procurement price. Now, a farmer will get additional Tk1,600 for per bigha land. So, they would not be loser.” He also asked the DG Food officials to test moister of the paddy going to the farmer’s house, so that no one of them needs to go back with their crops from the godowns. “The farmers grow our food, so they are most honourable persons and we must have to give them the honour.”
He also asked the District Controller of Food (DC Food) and Regional Controller (RC) of Food of all regions and districts to work with efficiency and honesty to success the drive. “If anyone goes back from the godowns for negligence of the officials despite having proper moister, they wouldn’t be spared and necessary actions will be taken.”