Photo : Collected

KHULNA, Aug 20, 2025 (BSS) - Although the government had set the procurement period until August 31, the Khulna Regional Food Controller Office completed procurement on August 15, exceeding the target.

According to the Controller Office, the Regional Food Controller Office closed its procurement drives as more than 109 percent of the boiled rice procurement target and 105 percent of the Boro paddy procurement target had been achieved in all ten districts of the division as of August 15, 16 days ahead of the scheduled procurement deadline.

By August 15, a total of 47,442 tonnes of Boro paddy and 192,636 tonnes of boiled rice had been procured, office sources said.

Under the ongoing procurement drive, the Food Department has been purchasing paddy at Taka 36 per kilogram and boiled rice at Taka 49 per kilogram since May 15, 2025.

The Regional Food Controller Office set a target of procuring 45,037 tonnes of boiled rice and 173,319 tonnes of Boro paddy during the current season. The RC Food Office has procured over 47,442 tonnes of Boro paddy and over 188,692 tonnes of boiled rice.

Of these, over 5,800 tonnes of Boro paddy have been procured in Khulna, 4,239 tonnes in Bagerhat, 5,773 tonnes in Satkhira, 12,828 tonnes in Jashore, 6,515 tonnes in Jhenaidah, 3,473 tonnes in Magura, 2,941 tonnes in Narail, 2,929 tonnes in Kushtia, 1,922 tonnes in Chuadanga, and 1,021 tonnes in Meherpur.

Besides, over 26,877 tonnes of boiled rice have been procured in Khulna, 10,504 tonnes in Bagerhat, 19,678 tonnes in Satkhira, 34,538 tonnes in Jashore, 21,311 tonnes in Jhenaidah, 6,115 tonnes in Magura, 5,788 tonnes in Narail, 49,887 tonnes in Kushtia, 12,994 tonnes in Chuadanga, and 996 tonnes in Meherpur.

"We have procured paddy directly from farmers and bought rice from 774 millers in the division," said Md Zahirul Islam Zahangir, Assistant Deputy Director of Food.

"We have already announced the closure of the procurement drives on August 17, as we have successfully achieved the procurement target in the division," he said.

Farmers are also happy after getting a satisfactory yield of the newly harvested Boro paddy, which has also created opportunities to ensure food security.

DAE officials said suitable climatic conditions, along with frequent rainfall during the farming season, raised hopes of achieving the desired production of Boro paddy.

Besides, the tyranny of the middleman has been reduced as the government is directly procuring paddy from marginal farmers, and they are happy as they get a fair price from local government representatives, Md Zahirul Islam Zahangir added.