Boro paddy, rice procurement begins in Palashbari

GAIBANDHA, May 23 (BSS): Department of Food started Boro paddy and rice procurement drive Thursday in Palashbari upazila of the district amid much enthusiasm of the farmers and the millers.
Official sources said the government has set a target to purchase a total of 405 tonnes of paddy from the farmers directly and 2,448 tonnes of rice from the millers of the upazila during the current Boro season.
Local lawmaker Dr Younus Ali Sarker formally inaugurated the procurement drive at the local supply depot (LSD) of the upazila by cutting a red tape as the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, the lawmaker asked the food officials to conduct paddy and rice procurement drive as per government guidelines. He also urged the growers to sell their paddy to the local purchasing centre and sought cooperation from all to make the procurement drive a success in the upazila.
Upazila food controller M Ferdous Rafiqul Alam, officer-in-charge of LSD Halimur Rahman Palash, rice mill owners, farmers and journalists were present on the occasion.
Talking to the news agency, food official M Saiful Alam said some 4,013 tonnes of Boro paddy and 29,804 tonnes of rice would be procured through 11 purchasing centres of the district this year.
Per kg of paddy is being purchased from the farmers at the rate of Tk 20 and rice from the millers at Tk 31, he said.