The government has started procurement of paddy directly from farmers at Tk27 per kg, said Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Thursday.
Besides, the government will start rice procurement on May 7 and it will continue till August 31, he said.
The minister inaugurated the program through a video conference held in the conference room of the Food Department.
Issuing a note of warning, Sadhan said the ministry will keep vigil to stop the hoarding of paddy.
He also urged the mill owners to complete their deal with the Food Department by May 7-16 to procure rice as the duration of the procurement will not be extended.
Public representatives of Tangail, Naogaon, Dinajpur, Sunamganj, Mymensingh, Brahmanbaria, Barisal and Jhenaidah districts, high officials of local administration, officials of Food Department, mill owners and farmer's representatives joined the event virtually.
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On February 24, the government set a target to procure 650,000 tons of Boro paddy and 1,100,000 tons of boiled rice and 50,000 tons of non-boiled rice in the upcoming season in 2022.
The procurement price of Boro paddy has been fixed at Tk27 per kg, boiled rice at Tk40 per kg and Atap rice(non-boiled) at Tk39.