Unable to control rice price hike

The price of rice is increasing beyond control despite a record production and the highest stock in silos, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said yesterday.

Since rice is the staple food, the country will have to further boost the grain production at any cost, the minister said at a meeting to review the progress of his ministry's annual development programme at Secretariat.

"We are unable to control the price hike," he said.

He urged scientists, agriculture extension officials and others concerned to work sincerely for increasing food production.

He asked officials not to waste time in lobbying to become projects directors in the hope of earning extra money through corruption and irregularities. "The project directors are recruited after considering professional skill, eligibility and leadership quality," he said.

He said those who are in charge of projects have to maintain transparency in spending funds.

Razzaque also asked the officers to monitor the project work strictly.

According to the ministry, it has 71 projects in FY2021-2022 with a total allocation of Tk 2,928 crores. So far, 32 percent work has been implemented till December 2021, higher than the national ADP implementation of 24 percent.