No shortage of food storage facilities: Minister

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder has categorically said that the country’s food storage facilities are good enough to store the required amount of food grains.

The minister came up with this remark while inspecting a local supply depot at Porsha in Naogaon on Monday.

“There is adequate food stock and no food shortage remaining in the nation while the amount for the Open Market Sale has already been doubled. Rice procurement is also going on smoothly. Food distributions among the poor will also be started from September, this year, said the minister.

“The quality of the procured rice is good so far. If anyone supplies bad quality food crops to us, we will not only send such crops to them but also will go for legal action against them,” he said.

Among others, zonal food controller of Rajshahi GM Faruk Hossain Patwary and other officials were present during the visit of the minister.

According to the Ministry of Food, some 15.66 lakh tons of food crop has been stored in government warehouses till July 29. Of them, the amount of rice is 11.97 lakh tons while wheat 2.47 lakh tons and paddy 1.87 lakh tons.

Meanwhile, Boro paddy and rice procurement drive has begun from April 28 and May 7 respectively. Till July 29, some 3.16,524 tons of Boro paddy, 7.49 lakh tons of boiled rice, 60,265 tons of plain rice and 1.3 lakh tons of wheat had been collected from the farmers.