Govt will not buy paddy from middleman: Food minister

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder has said that the government will not buy paddy from any middleman.
 
Mentioning that the main goal of the food ministry is to buy paddy from real farmers, he said that it will be monitored so that no one can stock food without a food grain license. 
 
He called upon the food officials to be vigilant to ensure that the millers supply rice as per the contract on time.
 
He made the remarks while virtually addressing the progress review meeting of 'Internal Boro Collection 2021 of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions' as the chief guest from his office room at the Secretariat in the capital on Monday.
 
Warning that no excuse will be tolerated for failure in Boro collection, the minister said 75% of the collection target should be achieved by 30 June. "Those who have already achieved the target in the procurement drive will be re-allocated, and departmental action will be taken against those whose progress is not satisfactory," he added.
 
Majumder said that field level officials have to find out why the millers are procrastinating the supply of rice. Making a plan becomes easier if the field level information is accurate. 
 
Mentioning that the market is monitored under the leadership of the district deputy commissioner, the food minister said, "In order to keep the price of rice under control, it is necessary to coordinate with the deputy commissioner to increase the involvement of food officers in monitoring the rice market and rice mills."
 
He said, "It should be remembered that the food department works to ensure food security for 17 crore people. Collected food grains play a key role to face any disaster. The officials of the food ministry have to make the ongoing Boro collection campaign a success performing their respective responsibility."
 
Presided over by Director General of the Food Department Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the meeting was also addressed by Secretary to the Food Ministry Dr Nazmanara Khanum as the special guest.
 
Field level officials of the food department of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions also attended the meeting virtually.