Targets fixed to procure Boro, wheat this season

FE Report | Published: March 04, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

The government decided on Tuesday to procure 1.1 million (11 lakh) tonnes of Boro in a drive that begins on May 1 next.
Food Minister Quamrul Islam announced the procurement target at a press briefing after a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC) at his ministry. He earlier presided over the meeting.
Of the total amount, about 1.0 million tonnes will be husked rice and 0.1 million tonnes paddy. The procurement price for the Boro rice has been fixed at Tk 32 per kg and paddy at Tk 22.
The production cost of paddy was estimated at Tk 20 and that of rice Tk 27.50 per kg in the current Boro season, he told the media.
The procurement drive will start on May 01 next and the drive is supposed to end on August 31 this year.
On the other hand, about 0.15 million (1.5 lakh) tonnes of wheat will be procured under a three-month drive that will start on April 01 next. It will run until June 30 next.
The government will procure wheat at Tk 28 per kg in the current year against the production cost of Tk 26 per kg, the minister said.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and senior officials were present at the FPMC meeting.
The food minister said the Boro procurement price was raised this year in view of the increased production cost this time compared to the last year.
The government fixed the procurement targets for Boro and wheat crops far ahead of the schedule so that the farmers get reasonable prices on their produce and do not fall victim to any conspiracy, the minister said.
When asked about the total production this season, the minister said: "We expect the Boro output will be 19 million tonnes and wheat 1.4 million to 1.5 million tonnes in the current year."
Expressing satisfaction over the country's present stocks of food grains, the minister said the aggregate food grains stocks in the country presently stand at 1.1 million tonnes, 0.3 million tonnes more than that of last year.
Last year the government had fixed the target to procure 1.0 million tonnes of husked Boro rice and 0.15 million tonnes of paddy.
The procurement price of Boro rice was fixed at Tk 31 per kg and paddy Tk 20 last year. The production cost of paddy was Tk 17.50 and rice Tk 26.50 per kg.
Besides, the government had also taken a decision to procure 0.15 million tonnes of wheat last year. The procurement price had been fixed at Tk 27 per kg.
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