Food procurement drive is going on at slow pace in Magura as farmers are reluctant to sell their food grains to government warehouse due to higher prices of paddy and rice in local markets compared to the official procurement rates.
According to Magura district food office, the department has bought only 1,065 metric tonnes of rice since its procurement drive started on May 2.
The department has started its drive with a procurement target of 1,069 tonnes of boro paddy and 4,676 tonnes of boro rice in the district.
But up until Thursday, the department is yet to procure any paddy and has only procured 1,056 tonnes of rice during this period.
The price of paddy and rice has increased significantly in the last three weeks.
Currently, boro paddy is being sold at local markets for Tk20 per kg which was Tk17 three weeks ago while rice is being sold at Tk30 per kg which was Tk25.
But government procurement rate for paddy is Tk18.50 per kg while rice is Tk29 per kg.
In this situation, both farmers and millers are showing reluctance in selling paddy and rice under government procurement as prices are higher at local markets.
Noim Mian, a farmer of village Alukdia under Magura sadar upazila, said: “The government had fixed paddy procurement rate at Tk18.50 per kg. But at present we are selling paddy in the local market at Tk20.”
“We are observing that selling paddy in the local market is more profitable than selling it to the government.”
Baharul Islam, a miller of Nanduali under Magura sadar upazila, said: “Initially we have sold rice under government procurement. But within three weeks price of rice has significantly risen in the local market.
“Boro rice is being sold in the market at Tk30 per kg which was Tk25 three weeks ago. But government procurement rate is only Tk29 per kg.”
He said if farmers and millers sold paddy and rice to government warehouse they would incur heavy losses.
Requesting anonymity an official of Magura food office said there were no space in government warehouses as they are filled with wheat that was procured earlier.
But even after issuing several notices, the contactors are not shifting the wheat to the Khulna warehouse from here, he added.
Md Khairullah, a contactor of the food office, said they were not paying heed to those notices as they were not satisfied with the payment provided by the food office.
Abdul Kader, acting district food controller, said price of rice and paddy has significantly increased in the recent time.
He, however, said they would do whatever is possible to achieve the procurement target. He also denied the shortage of space in the warehouses.