Paddy Tk 23, rice Tk 32

The government has decided to procure 7 lakh tonnes of rice and 6 lakh tonnes of paddy during the current Boro season.

Talking to journalists after a meeting of food planning and monitoring committee at the secretariat yesterday, Food Minister Quamrul Islam said the paddy would be procured at Tk 23 per kg as the production cost of it is Tk 20.70, and the rice would be procured at Tk 32 per kg as the production cost of it is Tk 29.

He said the paddy and the rice would be purchased from May 5 to August 31.

The minister told reporters that the government has increased the procurement target of paddy this year for the benefits of the farmers.

The government procured one lakh tonnes of paddy and 10 lakh tonnes of rice last year. The government has 10,74,431 tonnes of rice and paddy in its stock.

Chaired by Food Minister Quamrul Islam, the meeting was also attended by Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and State Minister for Food Nuruzzaman Ahmed.