Political influences are in the wake of recent crisis on paddy cultivation and rice collection as well, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzak told media.
Terming the crisis as not new phenomenon, the minister said: “Government could not buy rice directly from farmers and such problems continuing since the Ershad regime. All the governments have taken initiative to buy rice from the farmer’s, however, nothing changed.
After concluding a courtesy call with China Ambassador Zhang Joua in Dhaka on Thursday (May 16), the Agriculture Minister talked journalists on the issue.
Abdur Razzak said, “The rice bought from farmer’s always found in low quality and it’s often wet. If the government disallows to buy the wet rice, then the farmer has to take back the rice to his home. This is really pitiful.”
However, quality rice is available at rice mills.
He said, hopefully this year more than 3.5 million tonnes of paddy, including Boro, Aus and Aman, will be produced. Meanwhile, Boro paddy production will be 9.06 million tonnes.
In response to another question of the journalists, Agriculture Minister said, “The government will buy 1.2 to 1.5 million tonnes of rice per year. However, it will not influence regular rice market.”
Abdur Razzak said: “The government is concerned about the low prices of Boro. In such situation, we will consider on rice export issue.”
Responding to a question from the journalists, the Agriculture Minister said there is no target to take action against the market middlemen in the purchase of rice.