(BSS) – Despite failing to meet the paddy and rice procurement target in the Chattogram region for five consecutive Aman seasons, the Food Department has exceeded expectations this season by purchasing over 100 percent of the target.

The target for procurement of paddy, parboiled rice and boiled rice in the Chattogram region this fiscal year was set at 145,953 tonnes. However, by the end of the season, the Food Department had collected 160,291 tonnes, surpassing the target by 109.81 percent.

This achievement has been attributed to increased paddy production in the current season and the heightened interest of farmers in selling their produce at government-fixed prices.

The Food Department has fixed procurement prices for Aman season paddy in the 2025–26 fiscal year at Tk 34 per kg for raw paddy, Tk 50 for parboiled rice and Tk 49 for boiled rice.

Compared to the previous fiscal year, the government has increased prices by Tk 1 per kg for paddy and Tk 3 per kg for parboiled and boiled rice. This price hike has encouraged farmers to sell their paddy to government warehouses due to improved rates.

The Chattogram Regional Food Controller’s Office announced that the procurement of Aman paddy, parboiled rice and boiled rice would continue from November 20, 2025, to February 28 of the following year. The initial target for nine districts – Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, Chandpur and Brahmanbaria – was set at 106,531 tonnes.

Later, a revised target of 145,953 tonnes of paddy, parboiled rice and boiled rice was set.
Statistics show that after five consecutive seasons of falling short, the Food Department has exceeded the target by around 10 percent this season. In the previous year (2024–25), the target for Aman paddy procurement was 38,170 tonnes, of which only 2,941 tonnes were purchased. Similarly, out of the target of 58,410 tonnes of boiled rice, 39,171 tonnes were purchased, and out of 26,975 tonnes of uncooked rice, 20,571 tonnes were procured. Overall, the Food Department procured 63,000 tonnes of paddy and rice against a target of 123,555 tonnes.

In the 2023–24 fiscal year, the target for paddy procurement was 27,735 tonnes, of which only 2,590 tonnes were purchased. For boiled rice, the target was 45,378 tonnes, of which 43,606 tonnes were purchased, while for uncooked rice the target was 57,028 tonnes, of which 23,833 tonnes were purchased. Similarly, in the 2022–23 fiscal year, out of a target of 42,721 tonnes of paddy, only 1,339 tonnes were purchased, and out of a target of 31,966 tonnes of uncooked rice, 43,289 tonnes were procured.

In the 2021–22 fiscal year, 56,685 tonnes of paddy were purchased against a target of 42,613 tonnes, along with 58,184 tonnes of parboiled rice against 12,749 tonnes. However, in that year, procurement of parboiled rice was later stopped. In the previous fiscal year (2020–21), only 964 tonnes of paddy were purchased against 17,354 tonnes, along with 2,196 tonnes of parboiled rice against 37,850 tonnes.

Chattogram Regional Food Controller GM Faruk Hossain Patwari said, “This season, we have been able to procure more paddy and rice than the target due to good production. Farmers have also actively participated as government prices are competitive with market rates.”

Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Assistant Deputy Director of the Chattogram Regional Food Controller’s Office, highlighted the challenges in the previous Aman season due to excessive rainfall and floods affecting production.

Farmers and stakeholders involved in the procurement process have expressed satisfaction with the government’s pricing policy, and efforts will continue to sustain this positive trend.