Masud Rana

Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar said, “There is no scope of incurring losses to the farmers and millers, if paddy and rice are procured with the government fixed prices. Because of a high level government committee has determined the procurement prices adding relevant profits with the production costs. The prices will be coordinated further in upcoming season.”

The Food Adviser made the remarks, while replying to several queries of journalists after a view exchange meeting with all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and District Food Controllers (DFCs) in Rajshahi Division. The programme was organized at the Circuit House of Sirajganj town with the initiative of concerned District Administration on Saturday.

Expecting to fulfill the paddy and rice procurement target this year, the adviser further said, “The incumbent interim government is trying to ensure food security by procuring necessary paddy and rice with fair prices to face poverty and hunger in the country. Those will be provided to the poor and ultra poor people of the country through OMS and VGD to keep the market price stable.”

“In the current season, the target of rice production in eight districts of Rajshahi division has been set at 92,729 metric tons, paddy at 53,359 metric tons and Atap rice at 13,950 metric tons. Meanwhile, 28,055 metric tons of rice and 206 metric tons of paddy have been procured. That means, about 30 percent of the target has already been achieved from the eight districts of the region so far,” he added.

The programme was presided over by Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Khandaker Azim Ahmed (NDC), while Director General of the Food Department Abdul Khalek, Rajshahi Divisional (Regional) Food Controller Main Uddin, Deputy Commissioner in Sirajganj Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Superintendent of Police in Sirajganj Md. Faruk Hossain, Deputy Commissioners and Food Controllers of several other districts attended the event.