Govt plans to buy Boro rice early to benefit farmers

The food ministry has started its preparation to buy around 12–15 lakh metric tonnes of Boro rice soon at Tk. 39 per kg

from the local markets, according to officials of the Directorate General of Food.

According to sources, the government, as part of the plan, plans to buy Boro rice from mid-April instead of May as in previous years. The government’s plan to buy Boro rice early this year from the local markets is aimed at ensuring proper prices for farmers. Against this backdrop, a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC) will be held at the food ministry today to start early procurement of Boro rice this year.

Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque, commerce minister Tipu Munshi, food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, cabinet secretary and other senior officials are likely to attend the meeting.

Once the FPMC, led by the food minister, gives its nod to the proposal, the procurement process will start soon, the sources said.

The government can buy 3–4.5 lakh tonnes of Boro paddy, yielding 2–3 lakh tonnes of rice, according to food ministry officials.

The ministry will prioritise buying paddy directly from farmers this season, the sources said.

The remaining rice of around 12–13 lakh tonnes, will be bought from rice millers, they added.

The officials said the government could not always realise its plan to buy rice and paddy directly from farmers every year as they failed to maintain the required standards or regulate the moisture content. As a result, the government ends up buying the crops it from millers, who pocket most of the incentives.

But the government wants to ensure that the incentives go to farmers. So, it now plans to set up separate paddy silos and paddy drier machines.

When contacted, food minister Shadhan Chandra Majumder told this correspondent that farmers did not get any incentives even though the government bought rice from the local markets. “Normally, rice millers benefit from the support provided by the government. But we're keen to buy paddy and rice directly from farmers this year. It would help the government ensure profit for the farmers,” he said.

He also said that his ministry was planning to construct separate 'paddy silos' across the country. “At the same time, drier machines will also be bought for the silos to ensure the standards and moisture content of paddy and rice. This will help us to buy crops directly from farmers," he added.

The minister said the authorities concerned had already been asked to conduct a feasibility study in this regard. The project will be undertaken soon after the study, he added.

Govt plans to buy Boro rice early to benefit farmers

The food ministry has started its preparation to buy around 1215 lakh metric tonnes of Boro rice soon at Tk. 39 per kg from the local markets, according to officials of the Directorate General of Food. According to sources, the government, as part of the plan, plans to buy Boro rice from mid-April instead of May as in previous years. The governments plan to buy Boro rice early this year from the local markets is aimed at ensuring proper prices for farmers. Against this backdrop, a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC) will be held at the food ministry today to start early procurement of Boro rice this year. Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque, commerce minister Tipu Munshi, food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, cabinet secretary and other senior officials are likely to attend the meeting. Once the FPMC, led by the food minister, gives its nod to the proposal, the procurement process will start soon, the sources said. The government can buy 34.5 lakh tonnes of Boro paddy, yielding 23 lakh tonnes of rice, according to food ministry officials. The ministry will prioritise buying paddy directly from farmers this season, the sources said. The remaining rice of around 1213 lakh tonnes, will be bought from rice millers, they added. The officials said the government could not always realise its plan to buy rice and paddy directly from farmers every year as they failed to maintain the required standards or regulate the moisture content. As a result, the government ends up buying the crops it from millers, who pocket most of the incentives. But the government wants to ensure that the incentives go to farmers. So, it now plans to set up separate paddy silos and paddy drier machines. When contacted, food minister Shadhan Chandra Majumder told this correspondent that farmers did not get any incentives even though the government bought rice from the local markets. Normally, rice millers benefit from the support provided by the government. But were keen to buy paddy and rice directly from farmers this year. It would help the government ensure profit for the farmers, he said. He also said that his ministry was planning to construct separate paddy silos across the country. At the same time, drier machines will also be bought for the silos to ensure the standards and moisture content of paddy and rice. This will help us to buy crops directly from farmers, he added. The minister said the authorities concerned had already been asked to conduct a feasibility study in this regard. The project will be undertaken soon after the study, he added.