Officials asked to make foodgrains procurement drive a success

Milon who is also the Minister-in-Charge of Nilphamari district was visiting the local LSD (local supply depot) godown on the Station Road to see for himself the progress of the drive. He was accompanied by prominent BNP leader and Prime Minister's nephew Engineer Shahrin Islam Tuhin, also the secretary general of the Engineers' Association of Bangladesh (EAB), the deputy commissioner (DC) of Nilphamari and other high district officials.

The state minister also directed the authorities concerned to purchase rice and paddy directly from the growers. He asked the food officials to ensure fair price of foodgrains so that farmers are not deprived like the previous years.

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'By strengthening the farmers' backbone we can strengthen our national economy,' Milon said. He advised the food department officials to improve their standard of service.

EAB secretary general who is also the Nilphamari district unit president of ruling BNP in his address said that this year a bumper production of IRRI-Boro was achieved. For greater benefit of farmers he suggested enhancement of foodgrains procurement target in the district so that local farmers can get fair price of their produce.

The state minister assured that on his return to the capital he would discuss about the drive with the Food and Natural Disaster Management Minister.

The foodgrains procurement drive started in the district on May 26. Here the target of this year's rice procurement drive is 17,419 metric tons and that of paddy is 2,467 metric tons. The official price against per kilogram of rice is 13.25 taka and that of paddy per kilogram is 8.40 taka.

It was learnt from the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Nilphamari that IRRI-Boro production exceeded the target this year.