Minister: Govt to procure 6 lakh tons of Aman paddy

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak has said the government will procure six lakh tons of paddy directly from farmers in the current Aman season.

Giving priority to underprivileged farmers, the paddy will be procured through lottery system, the minister said while speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of 7th Bapa Food Pro International Expo-2019 at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka on Thursday, reports UNB. 

He said paddy prices have increased by Tk100-Tk200 per maund after government’s announcement of paddy procurement which is positive news for farmers. But the ministry is always in dilemma over the hike and fall of prices, he added.  

“We are criticized when prices fall and face pressure when prices go up, the minister said.

Despite having rice in stock, media reports are coming up over rive price spirals and the price has gone up by Tk4-5 per kg in the last one week, he said.

"Once there was food deficiency in Bangladesh. Though Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country, it has achieved much success in food production. The government has taken a number of initiatives to boost food production,” he said.

As Bangladesh is a densely-populated country, arable lands are shrinking fast which is a great challenge to the nation in addition to natural calamity,” Razzak said.

The minister thanked Bangladesh Agro-Processors' Association (BAPA) as the export of agricultural goods from Bangladesh has exceeded US$400m.

BAPA President AFM Fakhrul Islam, Munshi Agriculture Secretary Md Nasiruzzaman, acting High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Bishwadip Dey, country representative of FAO Robert Douglas Simpson, among others, spoke at the event.

BAPA organized the three-day show on Food Processing sector. Two concurrent expositions -- 9th Agro Bangladesh Expo 2019 and 6th Rice & Graintech Expo Bangladesh -- are also being held at ICCB.