The Boro paddy procurement period has been extended by 15 days, according to a press release issued by the food ministry on Tuesday (September 1).
It has been said in the press release that due to the extension of Boro procurement period, paddy and rice can be procured till September 15. Earlier, the food department had issued an order extending the period of Boro procurement.
On July 1, the food minister held an online meeting with those involved with Boro procurement and said that this time the bumper crop of paddy has been harvested in the current season. There is no reason for the rice market to be volatile in this busy season. If anyone tries to increase the price of rice through malpractice, the government will be in a tough position. The minister also said that rice would be imported officially if necessary.
The food minister told the rice mill owners presented in the meeting to keep the rice market stable. The mill owners must supply rice to the government go-downs as per the agreement with the government. If not, the government will be forced to import rice.
According to the food ministry, rice will be imported if there is a shortage in procurement. Preparations are underway for this. In addition, local mill owners have been asked not to import, giving them more time to procure rice. If sufficient rice is not supplied to the government during this surplus, it will be imported according to the deficit.
Incidentally, the Boro procurement started on last April 26 and ended on August 31 in the first phase. After that the term was extended for 15 days. The government has set a target of purchasing 19 lakh metric tonnes of Boro paddy and rice this season. According to that, it was decided to buy 10 lakh metric tonnes of boiled rice from the millers at Taka 36 per kg, 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of Atap rice at Taka 35 per kg and eight lakh metric tonnes of boro paddy at Taka 26 per kg directly from the farmers. Till last 31st August, the total procurement of Boro paddy and rice was 7 lakh 81 thousand 769 tons. Of these, 5 lakh 63 thousand 555 tons boiled rice, 82 thousand 795 tons of Atap and 2 lakh 8 thousand 337 tons of paddy have been procured. The time has been extended to procure the remaining paddy and rice as per the target.