Bangladesh, Oct. 4 -- The government has procured more than 2.0 million tonnes of Boro rice and paddy this season, setting a record for domestic procurement as attractive government-set prices encouraged farmers and rice millers to supply grain to public warehouses.

For the season, the government set a procurement target of 1.85 million tonnes of cereals, including 0.5 million tonnes of paddy, 1.2 million tonnes of parboiled rice, 0.1 million tonnes of white (atap) rice and 50,000 tonnes of wheat.

Under the announced procurement prices, Boro paddy was purchased at Tk 36 per kg, parboiled rice at Tk 49 per kg, white (atap) rice at Tk 48 per kg and wheat at Tk 36 per kg.

The procurement drive began on May 3 and was initially scheduled to...