RANGPUR, May 16, 2019 (BSS) – The government has started procurement of a record quantity of 2.24-lakh tonnes of boiled Boro rice, 14,641 tonnes of ‘Atap’ rice and 23,434 tonnes of Boro paddy in Rangpur division this season.
Officials at Rangpur Regional Office of the Department of Food today told
BSS that the procurement drive began from April 25 last and would continue
till July 31 next in all eight districts of Rangpur division as elsewhere in
the country.
Regional Controller of Food Mohammad Raihanul Kabir said the government is
procuring record quality of boiled Boro rice, ‘Atap’ rice and Boro paddy
aiming at ensuring fair market price to common farmers.
“Under the programme, we have completed signing of agreements with 8,000
millers to get supply of one lakh 24 thousand and 310 tonnes of boiled Boro
rice at Taka 36 per kg this season from Rangpur division,” he said.
Besides, another 251 millers will supply 14,641 tonnes of ‘Atap’ Boro rice
at Taka 35 per kg while the government will purchased Boro paddy directly
from the farmers at Taka 26 per kg.
“In addition, we have been procuring 11,788 tonnes of wheat directly from
farmers since April 1 last and the process will continue till June 30 next.
We have already produced 500 tonnes of wheat by Wednesday from all over
Rangpur division,” he said.
“Adequate steps have been taken to maintain complete transparency in the
Boro rice, paddy and wheat procurement processes to make the government’s
goal of ensuring fair price of the crop to common farmers successful,” Raihan
added.
District Food Controller for Rangpur Abdul Quader said 25,190 tonnes of
boiled Boro rice, 726 tonnes of ‘Atap’ Boro rice and 3,998 tonnes of Boro
paddy will be procured from farmers in all eight upazila of the districts
this season.
Regional Additional Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension
(DAE) Mohammad Ali here today said farmers have exceeded fixed Boro rice
cultivation target this season in the region following various effective
steps of the government.
The farmers have cultivated Boro rice on 5.19-lakh hectares of land, 19,695
hectares higher than the fixed target of bringing over 4.99-lakh hectares of
land under Boro farming to produce 20.70-lakh tonnes of clean Boro rice this
season in the region.
“Meanwhile farmers have already harvested Boro rice on 1.98-lakh hectares
of land producing 73.80-lakh tonnes of clean rice at an average yield rate of
3.98 tonnes of clean rice per hectare in the region,” he said.
Horticulture Specialist of the DAE at its regional office Khondker Md.
Mesbahul Islam said adequate steps to ensure all facilities to farmers to
achieve the Boro rice production target this season.
Farmers Manik Mian, Ayub Ali, Abdus Sobhan and Tofazzal Hossain of
different villages here said they were continuing Boro rice harvest in full
swing and getting excellent yield rate of the major cereal crop this time.
“I have cultivated Boro rice on five acres of my own lands using power-
driven irrigation pump. I am expecting a super bumper production of the crop
this season,” said another farmer Batul of village Najirdigar here.
However, farmers suggested the government to procure only Boro paddy
directly from them instead of procuring rice from millers to reach full
benefits to farmers for their produce.