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Food Minister Afrozah Khanam has said the government plans to procure paddy directly from farmers, cutting out middlemen to ensure fair prices for growers.
The initiative will initially be launched as a pilot project in three districts, with plans to expand it to other parts of the country gradually if successful.
She made the announcement at a meeting with officials of the food department at Chattogram Circuit House on Monday. The meeting was organised by the district administration and the food department.
The minister said the procurement process would be simplified so that farmers could sell their paddy to the government easily and without harassment.
She said the authorities would take into account the difficulties farmers face in opening bank accounts and completing the formalities required to sell paddy under the government procurement programme.
If necessary, payments through mobile financial services such as bKash would also be considered, she added.
The minister said the government’s election manifesto included commitments to ensure fair prices for farmers and deliver safe food to people’s homes on time. She urged food department officials to perform their duties with honesty, dedication and accountability.
Emphasising transparency in food grain distribution, Afrozah Khanam said maintaining adequate stocks of rice and wheat and ensuring their quality were essential to safeguarding national food security.
She said food grains procured from all sources, including imports, must be accepted only if they met the prescribed quality standards, stressing that no compromise could be made on quality.
The minister also called for the use of designated seals on food grain packages distributed by the government to strengthen accountability and help identify those responsible for irregularities.
She said surveillance would be strengthened to ensure food safety and control the use of harmful substances in food products.
The government is also planning to provide food-testing vehicles to all 64 districts to strengthen food inspection activities, she added.