Govt begins Boro paddy procurement in Bagerhat

The government launched its internal Boro paddy procurement drive in Bagerhat district today, with a target of purchasing 7,513 metric tonnes during the current season.

Bagerhat-2 lawmaker Sheikh Monjurul Haque Rahad inaugurated the programme at the Sadar Upazila Food Warehouse premises.

Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Golam Md Baten presided over the event, which was attended by district food officials, agriculture officers and local farmers.

Under the procurement programme, farmers will receive Tk 36 per kilogrammes of paddy, equivalent to Tk 1,440 per maund.

According to the officials, procurement targets have been fixed for upazilas based on local production levels.

Chitalmari has been assigned the highest target of 1,363 metric tonnes, followed by Bagerhat Sadar with 1,212 metric tonnes. Other targets include 970 metric tonnes in Morrelganj, 945 metric tonnes in Fakirhat, 908 metric tonnes in Mollahat, 853 metric tonnes in Kachua, and 532 metric tonnes in Rampal.

Officials at the event said paddy supplied to government warehouses must meet prescribed quality standards, including a moisture content limit of 14 percent.

Deputy Commissioner Baten said the administration was committed to achieving the full procurement target this year.

“We want to achieve 100 percent collection,” he told those present at the warehouse.

He also said instructions had been issued to ensure that marginal farmers could sell their produce directly to the government without facing any harassment or interference from middlemen.

Special guests at the inauguration included District Food Controller Mohammad Delwar Hossain, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Atia Khatun, Upazila Social Service Officer Sohel Parvez, and Sadar Upazila Food Controller Md Zakir Hossain.