Govt sets record in procuring Boro paddy, rice

The government has set a record in procuring paddy and rice during the Boro procurement programme-2025.    

According to a food ministry press release, the government earlier set a target to procure 350,000 tonnes of paddy, 14 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice and 50,000 tonnes of atap rice till 15 August during this season.

Of them, the government collected 376,942 tonnes of paddy, an increase by 26,942 tonnes compared to the target, 1,406,533 tonnes of parboiled rice, an increase of 6,533 tonnes and 51,307 tonnes of atap rice, which also saw an increase of 1307 tonnes than the target.   

Earlier, the government set per kilogram of paddy and rice at Tk36 and 49 respectively to buy from farmers and others.

The ministry claimed that it is the highest procurement in Bangladesh's history.

However, rice prices in the country continue to climb, defying record harvests, high imports, and large government reserves.

Since August last year, prices have surged in waves, even during peak Aman and Boro harvests.

Despite bumper production, steady imports, and healthy government stocks, consumers are now paying Tk5–17 more per kilogram than a year ago.

According to the planning commission's General Economics Division, Rice prices remain a major driver of food and overall inflation in Bangladesh.

In its August outlook released yesterday (17 August), the division said rice's contribution to food inflation rose from 40% in May to 51.55% in July with prices of all three major rice categories — fine, medium, and coarse — marking rise.

Most consumed medium and coarse varieties hit double-digit inflation since December last year, frustrating the expectations that the Boro yield would ease the price pressure on the staple since June.