Govt procures 1.17 lakh tonnes of boro rice in Rajshahi division

797

RAJSHAHI, Aug 9, 2020 (BSS) – The government has, so far, purchased around 1.17 lakh tonnes of boro rice during the current season contributing a lot towards food security amidst the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

As part of its ongoing boro rice procurement drive, the government has procured the food grain from all eight districts in Rajshahi division despite the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Simultaneously, 32,108.40 tonnes of boro paddy were also procured from the same areas at the same times.

“We have procured 1.12 lakh tonnes of boiled rice and 4,226.94 tonnes of non-boiled sunned (Atap) rice till Thursday last,” said Raihanul Kabir, Regional Controller of Food.

He said procurement drive of the newly harvested rice is going on in full swing everywhere in the division creating a high hope of ensuring food security amid the present adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Raihanul Kabir said the government has set a target of procuring 2,39,067 tonnes of boiled rice, 23,664 tonnes of non-boiled sunned rice and 1,42,495 tonnes of paddy in the division during the current season until August 31.

“We are procuring boiled rice at the rate of Taka 36 per kilogram while non-boiled rice at Taka 35 per kilogram,” he added.

Contracts have been signed with 5,218 millers for collecting 2,37,228 tonnes of boiled rice, while 154 other millers for supplying 20,833.49 tonnes of non-boiled rice. The enlisted millers have been supplying rice as per terms and conditions of the contract.

Besides, 11,352 tonnes of wheat were procured till Thursday last.

Meanwhile, farmers are now very much pleased with the present lucrative market price for the latest harvested Boro paddy in the entire region including its vast Barind tract.

After getting the profitable price of their paddy the farmers are seen bustling with farming of aush and transplanted aman paddy with more attention.

Wali Khan, 48, a farmer of Shahabdipur village under Godagari Upazila, said Zirashail variety paddy is being sold at TK 1,000 to 1,050 per mound while Brridhan-28 at TK 900 to 950 per mound at present against TK 700 and TK 650 respectively in corresponding time of the previous year.

“I have cultivated aush paddy on 30 bigha of land this time against last year’s 20 bigha after getting a satisfactory price of boro paddy,” said Nazmul Alam, a farmer of Jamin Sidhair village under Tanore Upazila.

Farmers have produced 34.23 lakh tonnes of Boro rice from 8.03 lakh hectares of land in the division during the last harvesting season.

On the other hand, the farmers are now very busy in nursing their well-growing aush paddy and transplantation of aman at present.

The ongoing farming of Aush paddy has exceeded target predicting a record production of the food crop in Rajshahi division during the current season.

The farmers have brought 1,639 hectares more lands under the paddy farming compared to the target set by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) after the best uses of facilities provided by the government.

The DAE has set a target of producing around 7.5 lakh tonnes of Aush rice from 2.52 lakh hectares of land in all eight districts in the division.

But, the farmers cultivated the paddy on around 2.54 lakh hectares of land generating hopes of additional rice production that will ultimately help coping with the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

Sources said government incentives; technological assistance, high yielding seeds, suitable climatic condition, frequent rainfall and satisfactory yield and market price of the newly harvested Boro paddy and rice are being adjudged as the major factors of exceeding the farming target.

Sudhendra Nath Roy, Additional Director of DAE, Rajshahi, said the government has adopted diversified steps including incentives and technological support to promote the aush rice farming.

Apart from this, the DAE has set a target of producing around 22.19 lakh tonnes of transplanted Aman rice from 7.67 lakh hectares of land in the division this season.