Over 83pc boiled rice procurement completed in Khulna

Over 83 percent boiled rice procurement has been completed in all 10 districts in Khulna division.

Over 83 percent boiled rice procurement has been completed in all 10 districts in  Khulna  division till August 31, said an official of Khulna Regional Food Controller Office.

The government has set a target of procuring 51,684 tonnes of Boro paddy and over 2,07,349 tonnes of boiled rice during the current season.

On August 31, 2023, over 28,164 tonnes of Boro paddy and over 1,71,417 tonnes of boiled rice have been procured, said the official.

Under the procurement drive, the Food Department has been procuring paddy at Tk 30 per kilogram and boiled rice at Taka 44 per kilogram since August 31 in 2023. The procurement time has been extended till September 14, 2023.

According to Regional Food Controller Office, a total of 5,163 tonnes of Boro paddy will be procured in Khulna, 5,505 tonnes in Bagerhat, 6,192 tonnes in Satkhira, 13,540 tonnes in Jashore, 8,114 tonnes in Jhenaidah, 2,186 tonnes in Magura, 4,242 tonnes in Narail, 2,898 tonnes in Kushtia, 2,624 tonnes in

Chuadanga and 1,220 tonnes in Meherpur districts.

Besides, a total of 32,246 tonnes of boiled rice will be procured in Khulna, 10,153 tonnes in Bagerhat, 23,500 tonnes in Satkhira, 38,436 tonnes in  Jashore, 16,561 tonnes in Jhenaidah, 5,701 tonnes in Magura, 5,809 tonnes in Narail, 61,844 tonnes in Kushtia, 13,019 tonnes in Chuadanga and 80 tonnes in

Meherpur districts.

"We will procure paddy from farmers directly and to buy rice from millers in the division," said Md Abdus Salam, regional controller (RC) of Food.

Meanwhile, procurement of the transplanted Boro paddy is going on in full swing everywhere in the division generating seasonal employment scopes of scores of unemployed people at present.

Farmers are also happy after getting satisfactory yield of the newly harvested Boro paddy which has also generated scopes of ensuring food security.

Officials of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said suitable climate conditions along with frequent rainfall during the farming season unleashed the hope of getting desired production of Boro paddy.

Besides, tyranny of the middle men have been reduced while the government procuring paddy and rice directly side by side marginal farmers became happy as they got fair price connecting with the local government representatives, the RC said.