The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The Government will procure 12 lakh metric tons of rice and three lakh metric tons of paddy at the rate of Taka 28 and Taka 18 per kg respectively in the current IRRI-Boro season.

The amount of procurement may be increased further to ensure the country's food security, Food and Disaster Management Secretary Molla Waheduzzaman said on Wednesday.

He was addressing a press conference in the meeting room of the Food and Disaster Management Ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat. Director General of Department of Food Pius Kosta was present.

The secretary said the target for procurement of rice and paddy was fixed at a meeting on Tuesday to place it before the council of advisers.

He said the prices of rice and paddy have been fixed considering the production costs in the current year. The production costs of rice and paddy were Taka 19.23 and Taka 13.19 per kg respectively.

The government is giving 40 per cent profit on the production cost to encourage the farmers, he said and added the rate of profit in the last year was 15 per cent.

The food secretary said the total capacity of government godowns is 15.50 lakh to 16 lakh metric tons. So, there will be no problem for preservation of rice.

He said a total of 1.75 crore metric tons of rice would be produced in the country in the IRRI-Boro season.

Molla Waheduzzaman said the demand for foodgrain in the country at present is 2.60 crore metric tons.

The foodgrain produced in IRRI-Boro season meets 55 per cent of the total demand, he added.