He said underprivileged farmers will get priority in paddy procurement and a lottery will be held in this regard, he said while addressing the inaugural session of 7th BapaFoodPro International Expo 2019 at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) as the chief guest.

He said paddy prices increased by Tk 100-Tk 200 per maundafter government’s announcement of paddy procurement which is positive news for farmers.But the ministry is always in dilemma over the hike and fall of prices, he added.

“We’re criticized when pricesfall and face pressure when prices go up, the minister said.

Despite having huge rice in stock, media reports are coming up over rice price spirals and the price has gone up by Tk 4-5 per kg in the last one week, he said.

"Once there was food deficiency in Bangladesh. Though Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country,it has achieved much success in food production. The governmenthas taken a number of initiatives to boost food production,” he said.

As Bangladesh isa densely-populated country, arable lands are shrinking fast which is a great challenge to the nation in addition to natural calamity,”Razzaque said.

The minister also thanked Bangladesh Agro-Processors' Association (BAPA)as the export of agricultural goods has exceeded USD 400mn from Bangladesh.

BAPA president AFM Fakhrul Islam,Munshi Agriculture secretary MdNasiruzzaman, acting High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh BishwadipDey, country representative of FAO Robert Douglas Simpson, among others, spoke at the event.

BAPAorganised the three-day show on Food Processing sector. Two concurrent expositions --9th Agro Bangladesh Expo 2019 and 6th Rice &Graintech Expo Bangladesh-- are also being held there.