DHAKA, April 8, 2018 (BSS) – Food Minister Advocate M Quamrul Islam today said the government has set a target to collect 10 lakh metric tonnes of Boro rice in the current season in view of the bumper production this year.
“The government will procure 8 lakh metric tonnes of parboiled rice, 1 lakh metric tonnes of atap rice and 1.50 lakh metric tonnes Boro paddy (which would produce one lakh metric tonnes of rice),” he told the journalists after a meeting of Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC) at the Food Ministry Conference room in the city.
The minister said the procurement price for per kg paddy has been fixed at Taka 26 and rice at Taka 38.
“The production cost of Boro rice was Taka 36 per kg this year and so the government will buy it for Taka 38 per kg. Atap rice will be bought for Taka 37 per kg and Boro paddy for Taka 26 per kg,” he added.
According to the Food Ministry, the government has 12.97 lakh metric tonnes food grain reserves.
Quamrul Islam said the government will not procure wheat this year due to this year’s limited production.
Bangladesh has produced a total of 13 lakh metric tonnes of wheat this year, he added.
He said the paddy and rice procurement drive will begin on May 2 and continue till August 31.
With Food Minister Advocate Quamrul Islam in the chair, the meeting was also attended by, among others, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and senior officials concerned.