Photo: BSS

GAIBANDHA, Aug 18, 2026 (BSS) - Marginal farmers in Gaibandha have expressed satisfaction after selling their paddy to government food warehouses at a fair price, which they said was higher than the prevailing market rate.

According to the District Food Controller's Office, the government began collecting Boro paddy in Gaibandha on May 25 this year. A total of 14,396 metric tonnes of paddy have been procured through 11 Local Supply Depots (LSDs) under government food warehouses across the district's seven upazilas.

Officials said extensive publicity campaigns and leaflet distribution were carried out across the district to implement the government's paddy procurement programme. Genuine farmers were able to apply online through the government's farmer app using their own or family members' mobile phones. The application process provided farmers with clear instructions on when and how to deliver their paddy to the food warehouses.

After the application process, farmers were selected through a lottery. Each selected farmer was allowed to sell up to three tonnes of paddy to the government at Taka 36 per kilogram. The Food Department paid the farmers directly into their bank accounts, ensuring a transparent procurement process without harassment.

Farmer Nayan Chandra of Kajaldop area in Sadar upazila said he had applied through the government app and was selected through the lottery.

"I was able to deliver my paddy to the government food warehouse without facing any harassment," he said.

He added that the government price was Taka 400 higher per maund than the market price. "We are grateful to the government for ensuring a good price for our paddy," he said.

Majedul Islam, a farmer from Dhangara village under Ballamjhar union of the upazila, told BSS that he sold three tonnes of paddy to the government this year.

"I received a better price than the market rate. We hope the government will continue to stand beside farmers in this way," he said.

S.M. Shahid Hasan, officer-in-charge of Gaibandha Sadar LSD, told BSS that farmers previously showed little interest in selling paddy to government food warehouses.

"The current government has fixed the price at Taka 36 per kilogram to ensure that farmers receive a fair price. The information has been widely disseminated among farmers. Following government instructions, we procured paddy from genuine farmers this year without any harassment," he said.

Gaibandha District Food Controller Nityananda Kundu told BSS that a total of 14,396 metric tonnes of paddy had been procured from selected farmers through 11 LSD warehouses in the district.

"Farmers came to the warehouses in person and delivered their paddy willingly, while payments were made directly to their bank accounts. They are selling paddy at government warehouses without facing any kind of harassment," he said.

He expressed hope that farmers would continue to cooperate with the government's food procurement programme by selling their paddy to government warehouses in the coming years.