The government will procure Boro paddy from farmers in 256 upazilas of 64 districts through app this season. This paddy will be collected directly from the farmers through 'Farmer's App'.
The procurement drive will continue from April 28 to August 31, said food department.
At a meeting of the Food Planning and Conservation Committee on February 24, it was decided that the government would buy 1.8 million tonnes of paddy and rice from the local market during the upcoming Boro season.
Of this, 6.50 lakh tonnes of paddy, 11 lakh tons of rice and 50,000 tons of atap rice will be collected. The procurement price of Boro paddy has been fixed at Tk 27 per kg, rice at Tk 40 and atap rice at Tk 39. Paddy will be purchased directly from the farmers.
Food department officials said farmers will have to register or apply for the sale of paddy from March 27. National identity card and mobile number will be required for farmer registration.
For registration, farmers can avail the assistance of Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer, Entrepreneur of Municipality / Union Digital Center, Officer-in-Charge of Food Warehouse and Upazila Food Controller.
Registration of new farmer will be considered as application for sale of paddy. The old registered farmers only have to apply for sale of paddy, the food department said.
The 'Farmer's App' can be downloaded from the Google Play Store of mobile phones.
The Department of Food has urged the farmers to sell paddy in government warehouses at the rate of Tk 1,080 per quintal through the app. Detailed information can be obtained by calling 333.