The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a dialogue yesterday laid emphasis on proper procurement of 'Boro' rice by the Government and timely storage of it with a view to attain food autarky at the national level.

They said that the 'Boro' procurement price set by the Government should be fair for the interest of the producers and the consumers.

These observations came at a dialogue on " Boro Procurement and Food Security Strategy: An Actionable Agenda" organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at the CIRDAP auditorium yesterday afternoon.

M Syeduzzaman, member, CPD Board of Trustee presided over the event and Dr AMM Shawkat Ali, Adviser for the Ministries of Food and Health and Family Planning and Disaster Management and Dr CS Karim, Adviser for the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources were present as special guests. Dr Mahabub Hossain, Executive Director, BRAC was present as guest of honour.

They were of the opinion that the budgetary initiatives and allocations were needed for drawing an action plan to increase food production in the fiscal year 2008-09

They also called upon the Government to supply all kinds of agriculture inputs to the farmers within affordable price with a view to maintain the continual increase of rice production.

They also pointed out that proper distribution of fertiliser, seeds, ensuring irrigation, using modern technology and cash subsidy were important for the development of agriculture.

Mentioning the Government initiatives Dr AMM Shawkat Ali said necessary directives were given to the concerned officials for attaining the Government Boro procurement target.

"We are keeping watch and reviewing the situation of the ongoing harvest of Boro for ensuring timely procurement," he said adding that the farmers would get their deserved price of products.

The Food Adviser said necessary steps were taken for the farmers to sell their products without facing any trouble or middlemen interferences.

Dr CS Karim said necessary steps would be taken by the Government to increase food production of the country.

He said if the supply chains of fertiliser were bigger than the price of it would be higher. He called upon the farmers to use fertiliser judiciously.

He said the government could not solve all problems relating to agriculture at a time.

The government has announced that it will procure 12 to 15 lakh metric tonnes of rice and paddy from the domestic market. Accordingly the government has fixed the procurement price for Boro rice at Tk 28 per kg and Boro paddy at Tk 18 a kg.