Govt to procure food grain directly from farmers thru app

The government will use a mobile application -- billed as “Krishoker App” -- to collect food grain directly from farmers across the country, said Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder yesterday.

The minister made the announcement while inaugurating the Aman rice collection programme in Naogaon in the morning, reads a handout from the PID.

“As a pilot project, the app will be used in 16 upazilas on an experimental basis during the Aman season. A farmer can apply to the government to sell his paddy and avail all the information through this app,” the minister explained.

He said rice is being procured in a transparent manner from the farmers under the supervision of food collection committee in districts and upazilas according to the list provided to the agriculture ministry.

“Instead of organising lottery throughout the country, we want to gradually procure rice using the ‘Krishoker App’. More rice will be collected in the next Boro season using this app. One hundred percent rice procurement by the app will be ensured in the next Aman season,” the minister said.

He said the mobile app will allow farmers to know if they have been selected or not and the amount of paddy they can sell. “If the pilot project is successful, this service will be spread all over the country,” he added.

Minister Majumder said the government is already taking all the necessary preparations because it will procure more paddy in the next Boro season.

“Procurement of rice began on November 1 across the country. There was a slight delay in the first year due to the registration procedure in the app. Collection of rice will be completed on time next year,” he stated.

In the current season, 6,158 tonnes of rice at Tk 36 per kg, 866 tonnes of Atap rice at Tk 35 per kg and 1,000 tonnes of rice at Tk 26 per kg will be procured through the “Krishoker App” at Naogaon Sadar food warehouse.

Besides, 17,114 tonnes of rice at Tk 36 per kg, 2,381 tonnes of Atap rice at Tk 35 per kg and 19,912 tonnes of rice at Tk 26 per kg will be procured directly from farmers this year at 19 food warehouses in Naogaon.

Naogaon Deputy Commissioner Harun Ur Rashid, SP (acting) Rashidul Haque, district controller of food GM Faruk Hossain Patowary were also present.