Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Tuesday warned the Directorate General of Food (DG Food) officials for any harassment of the farmers during supply of paddy or rice to the public godowns during the ongoing Boro procurement drive.
"The government has zero tolerance on corruption and sufferings of the farmers during supply of their paddy to the government godowns. The farmers will get scope of lodging complaints about their sufferings. Stringent punitive measures would be taken, if any complaint is received," he said while briefing media at his Secretariat office after inaugurating the countywide Boro procurement through a videoconference.
Beginning from Tuesday, the procurement drive will continue till August this year, according to the Food Ministry.
Talking the reporters, the Minister said this year the government has set a target to procure 70 per cent of stipulated target within June though the Boro procurement drive will continue till August 31.
He said the farmers can lodge complaint against anyone through mobile phone numbers. Stern action will be taken against those found involved in harassing farmers during the procurement drive.
This year, the government will procure 17 lakh tonnes of paddy and rice and of these, 5 lakh tonnes will be paddy, 11 lakh tonnes will be boiled rice and one lakh tonnes of par boiled rice.
The procurement price of Boro paddy has been fixed at Tk 32 per kg, boiled rice at Tk 45 and par boiled rice at Tk 44.
Alongside it, the government will procure 50,000 tonnes of wheat at Tk 34 per kg.
