Dhaka, April 10 -- In a major policy shift, the government is planning to purchase Boro harvest directly from the farmers this season to help ensure a fair price for the latter and boost its own stock.

On April 01, the cabinet division recommended that the food ministry take necessary steps to this effect, an official said.

The move comes against the backdrop of an unprecedented fall in rice stock of the state silos. The stock is now estimated at 0.39-million tonnes against a minimum comfortable stock of 1.2-million tonnes.

The official said the cabinet division suggested the ministry directly procure its desired volume of rice from the growers. This will also offer a fair price to the latter, he added.

In a letter addressed to both f...