The government has decided to procure 17.50 lakh metric tons (MT) of foodgrains during the upcoming Boro procurement season in 2023 as the four-month-long internal food procurement drive begins next month.

The decision was taken at a Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC) meeting at the cabinet conference room at the Secretariat here with Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder in the chair.

In the Boro procurement season, 4 lakh metric tons paddy, 12.50 lakh metric tons parboiled rice and the rest one lakh metric tons wheat would be procured.

"The internal food procurement will begin on May 7 and it will continue till August 31 this year," the meeting was told.

To carry out food procurement smoothly across the country, the government also has fixed the food procurement price with paddy at Taka 30 per kg while parboiled rice at Taka 44 and wheat at Taka 35.

In 2022, the paddy procurement price was fixed at Taka 27 per kg, parboiled rice at Taka 40 and wheat at Taka 28.

The meeting also was attended by Agriculture Minister Dr M Abdur Razzaque, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister M Tajul Islam, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim.

Secretaries from different ministries, including the cabinet secretary, among others, were present.

Source: BSS