Govt to procure 2.1m metric tonnes of food grains this season: PM

FT ONLINE

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the government will procure 2.1 million metric tonnes of food grains in the current season to ensure food security in the country and fair prices of farmers’ produces.

“The harvesting (of Boro paddy) has already begun. We’ll purchase 21 lakh (2.1 million) metric tonnes food grains this season so that the country doesn’t experience any food crisis in future and we could continue extending food assistance to the people,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said of the 2.1 million metric tonnes food grains, the government will buy 0.8 million metric tonnes paddy, 1 million metric tonnes rice, 0.22 million metric tonnes Atap (sunned) rice and 80,000 metric tonnes wheat.

The prime minister made the announcement while interacting with the public representatives and officials of eight districts under Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions on the present coronavirus situation of the country through a videoconference from her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital this morning, reports BSS.

The districts are Manikganj, Gazipur, Tangail, and Kishoreganj of Dhaka division and Jamalpur, Sherpur, Netrokona, and Mymensingh of Mymensingh division.

The premier also said the government has taken special measures for smooth supply of the essential goods in the upcoming Ramadan.

PM Hasina reiterated her call to the people to follow the health codes and instructions properly to contain the spread of COVID-19 outbreak.

“(It’s natural) that disasters will come and it will have to be faced. We’ve taken adequate preparation to prevent the deadly disease,” she said, seeking cooperation of the people to this end.

The prime minister said the people will have to stay alert so that the deadly virus does not spread further. “Consciousness of the people in this regard is very essential to prevent the disease,” she said.