Domestic procurement of boro paddy has formally begun in Bagerhat. Sheikh Monjurul Haque Rahad, member of parliament for Bagerhat-2, inaugurated the procurement as chief guest at the Sadar upazila food warehouse on the morning of Wednesday (13 May).

The event was chaired by Bagerhat deputy commissioner Golam Md Baten. Special guests included district food controller Mohammad Diloar Hossain, Sadar upazila nirbahi officer Mst Atia Khatun, upazila social services officer Sohel Parvez and Bagerhat Sadar upazila food controller Md Zakir Hossain. Farmers who had come to sell paddy, agriculture officials and local dignitaries were also present.

This season the government will buy 7,513 tonnes of paddy in the district at Tk 36 a kg, or Tk 1,440 a maund. The targets are 1,212 tonnes in Bagerhat Sadar upazila, 853 tonnes in Kachua, 532 tonnes in Rampal, 945 tonnes in Fakirhat, 908 tonnes in Mollahat, 1,363 tonnes in Chitalmari and 970 tonnes in Morrelganj. To sell paddy to government warehouses, its moisture content must not exceed 14 per cent.

Deputy commissioner Golam Md Baten said: "This time we want to procure 100 per cent of the paddy. We have given every instruction so that marginal farmers can easily sell paddy to government warehouses. I hope farmers will be able to sell their paddy without hassle."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.