Shafiqul Islam (Jami)
The government has fixed the official purchase price of aman paddy, rice and wheat this year. The government purchase price of aman paddy has been fixed at TK 27 per kg, rice at TK 40 per kg and wheat at TK 28 per kg. The decision was taken at a virtual meeting of the Food Planning and Containment Committee chaired by Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Sunday.
In the fiscal year 2021-22, the campaign to procure aman paddy and rice will start from November 7 at the mentioned price. At this time 3 lakh tons of aman paddy and 5 lakh tons of cooked rice will be purchased. Besides, it has been decided to buy 1.5 lakh tonnes of wheat from April 1, 2022. Last year, the prices of aman paddy and rice were TK 26 and TK 36 respectively.
Agriculture Minister among others at the meeting Dr. Abdur Razzak, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr. Enamur Rahman spoke on the occasion.
In his speech, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said the government wants to ensure fair prices for farmers. It also wants to increase food security stocks. The government has succeeded in collecting Boro paddy. The food minister hoped that success would be possible in the collection of aman in that continuity.
Agriculture Minister Dr. Abdur Razzak said agriculture depends on nature and region. Apart from paddy, a number of other agricultural products including onion and garlic are produced in the country but due to lack of conservation, farmers are deprived of fair prices.
He said food security was being ensured through increasing production despite declining agricultural land, industrial growth and, above all, non-human consumption. The cultivation of salinity tolerant paddy has already started for the southern part of the country. Efforts to make paddy production sustainable continue.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said Bangladesh exports a number of products, including food products. If quality products are produced, the possibility of export will increase further.
The meeting was attended by senior secretaries, secretaries and chairmen of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and expressed satisfaction over the overall food situation.
