Dhaka:The government has announced plans to procure a total of 8.5 lakh tonnes of paddy and rice from the domestic market during the current Aman season. This initiative aims to ensure fair prices for farmers and maintain food security.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the government will purchase 3 lakh tonnes of paddy directly from farmers at Tk 35 per kg. Additionally, it will procure 5 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice at Tk 49 per kg and 50,000 tonnes of non-parboiled rice at Tk 48 per kg. The decision was made during a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee.
Food Minister Afroza Khanam shared the details of the procurement plan while addressing reporters at the Secretariat after the meeting. The procurement of paddy is set to begin on November 14, with rice collection starting on December 1. Both procurement drives will continue until February 28 of the following year.
The government has also launched an initiative to boost aromatic rice production by offering special incentives to farmers in traditional cultivation areas. The production decline has driven prices above Tk 200 per kg, making it unaffordable for many consumers. A three-member committee with representatives from the ministries of Food, Agriculture, and Commerce has been established to explore ways to increase production.
State Minister for Food Md Abdul Bari explained that the committee members would visit aromatic rice-producing regions to identify viable cultivation locations and engage with interested farmers. He mentioned that the shrinking cultivation areas and lower production capacity of aromatic rice compared to regular rice have contributed to its scarcity and high prices.
Additionally, the state minister noted that large-scale exports of aromatic rice have ceased, although small quantities were previously exported. The meeting also reviewed a nationwide survey conducted by the Ministry of Land and the Ministry of Agriculture to determine the best-suited crops for various regional conditions.
Regarding rice imports, the state minister stated that the government has not permitted private-sector imports of parboiled rice during its recent tenure. Instead, the government is prioritizing domestic procurement, with only a small quantity of rice being imported directly by the authorities.