Dhaka: The government will procure Boro rice and paddy Tk 32 and Tk 22 per kilogram respectively while wheat at Tk 28 a kg this season.

Food Minister Quamrul Islam came up with the announcement at a press briefing at his office after on Tuesday a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee.

The minister said the drive to procure 1.5 lakh tonnes of wheat will begin on 1 April and it will continue till 30 June.

The drive to collect 10 lakh tonnes of Boro rice and 1 lakh tonnes of paddy from farmers will be conducted from 1 May to 31 August, he said.

The production cost of paddy will be Tk 20 per kg and that of rice Tk 27 and wheat Tk 26 per kg this year, Quamrul said.

The government has fixed the procurement prices of rice, paddy and wheat for providing fair prices to the farmers, he added.

The minister hoped that a total of 14-15 lakh mts of wheat and 1.90 crore tonnes of Boro paddy will be produced across the country this season.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury and high officials concerned were present in the meeting.