The government has extended Aman procurement across the country for another week to fulfil its target of 0.95-million tonnes.
The directorate general of food (DGoF) has procured 0.76-million tonnes of the grain until February 24 against the target by February 28.
According to the DGoF, the government set a target to buy 0.60-million tonnes of paddy and 0.35-million tonnes of milled rice from November 20 to February 28.
The price of paddy was fixed at Tk 26 a kilogram, 0.3-million tonnes of parboiled rice at Tk 36 and 0.05-million tonnes of white rice or atap at Tk 35.
A DGoF official said food ministry has decided to procure Aman grain until March 05 to attain the target.
He said 0.54-million tonnes of paddy, 0.25-million tonnes of parboiled rice and 20,000 tonnes of atap have been purchased between November 20 and February 24.
When asked, DGoF director general Sarwar Mahmud said the fixed volume of grain had not been possible to achieve within the deadline (February 28).
“Time has been extended to purchase the remaining 0.24-million tonnes within the next one week,” he added.
Mr Mahmud said they have procured an all-time high of 1.4-million tonnes of rice in the last Boro season.
There is nothing to worry about rice supply as the government has a stock of 1.45-million tonnes of the staple, he assured.
Mr Mahmud the government has distributed 1.1-million tonnes of rice during the July-February period of the current fiscal year, 2019-2020.
“Production side is also showing a good trend as we’re expecting a staggering 14.5-million tonnes of rice output in Aman season,” he concluded.
