The government has set a target to procure 7 lakh tonnes of paddy and rice from the marginal farmers across the country in the ongoing Aman season, said Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Sunday.
Under the programme, two lakh tonnes of paddy, 4 lakh tonnes boiled and the rest one lakh tonnes of Atap rice will be procured at a cost of Tk 30, Tk 44 and Tk 43 per kg respectively, he said while speaking at a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) held at the ministry.
Last year, the government procured two lakh tonnes of paddy and five lakh tonnes of rice at a cost of Tk 28 and Tk 42 per kg respectively.
The procurement drive will begin at the end of November, said the minister.
