ZCZC
BSS-46
SADHAN-HARVEST-BORO
Sadhan for speeding up harvesting-activity during boro season
DHAKA, May 09, 2021 (BSS) –Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder today urged all concerned specially farmers to speed up their activity of food-grain collection during the ongoing boro season to elude the food problem in the country.
“There would be no food problem if new crops could be harvested at the right time during the current boro season. Food grain collection needs to be speeded up. If the farmer survives, the country will survive. Therefore, paddy should be given priority in the collection of food grains and farmers should not be harassed in any way,” he said.
He came up with the remarks in a meeting with officials of Chattogram and Sylhet divisions through video conference from the capital.
Food secretary Dr Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum presided over it.
Addressing the field level officials and employees of Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, the minister said the government has already started paddy and rice procurement activities and discussions have been held with local administration officials, food department officials and mill owners’ representatives of all the districts under the six divisions.
A notification with 13 instructions has been issued and sent to the concerned divisions, he said, adding that considering the interest of the farmers, in this year’s ‘Boro procurement drive’, around 6.50 lakh metric tons of paddy will be procured directly from the farmers.
He added that paddy should be given priority in the purchase of paddy-rice.
In a video conference, the minister discussed various issues including corona situation in each district under Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, current boro paddy harvesting and threshing and official procurement of paddy rice.
The minister said Bangladesh, like every country in the world, is going through this ongoing pandemic.
He urged all to cooperate with each other in the food harvesting programme in order to ensure the post-corona food supply in the country.
Divisional Commissioners of Chattogram and Sylhet Divisions, Regional Food Controllers, District Food Controllers of each district under Chattogram and Sylhet Divisions and representatives of mill owners spoke in the video conference.
BSS/PR/SRH/KU/2150 HRS