Govt procures 1.52 lakh tonnes of boro rice in Rajshahi division

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RAJSHAHI, Sept 9, 2020 (BSS) – The government has, so far, procured around 1.52 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.

In addition to the rice procurement, the government has also purchased 40,198 tonnes of boro paddy from the same areas at the same times.

Raihanul Kabir, Regional Controller of Food, said they have procured 1.43 lakh tonnes of boiled rice and 8,450 tonnes of non-boiled sunned (Atap) rice till Tuesday last.

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 September 15. Boiled rice is being procured at the rate of Taka 36 per kilogram while non-boiled rice at Taka 35 per kilogram.

Contracts have been signed with 5,370 millers for collecting 2,35,199.76 tonnes of boiled rice, while 160 other millers for supplying 21,099.17 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.

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. The prevalent selling price rate was over expectation to the farmers.

Brridhan-28 is being sold at Taka 1,060 to Taka 1,090 per mound, while Ziradhan at Taka 1,120 to Taka 1,150 at present, said Atanu Sarker, Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer.

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

Farmers have been harvesting aush paddy with bumper yield everywhere in the region and they are very much happy after getting the over-expected paddy yield besides availing the scopes of spot selling of the newly harvested paddy.

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.

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.

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.

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.