The government food procurement drive is unlikely to achieve their target this year as the process is being affected by multifarious problems.
Millers and farmers are blaming the government policy for this situation saying that the procurement drive would be successful if prices of food grains were increased considering welfare of farmers.
According to District food office sources, the food procurement drive started on May 25 this year and it will continue till August 30.
The target of paddy procurement has been fixed at 1,192 tonnes while rice at 4,954 tonnes.
The district food office sources said they had procured only 810 tonnes of rice till yesterday while paddy procurement was nil. The price of per kilogram of paddy has been fixed at Tk20 while price of per kilogram rice Tk31.
Local sources said a syndicate of mill owners stopped supplying rice to food warehouses saying that its market price to be higher than the government fixed price.
Traders said if the price of rice is not increased or the government does not provide necessary intensive, the target of the grain procurement drive may suffer a shortfall in the current season.
Toyeb Ali, a boro farmer in village Gopalgram under Magura sadar upazila, said the government had fixed the paddy procurement rate Tk20 per kg, this quantity of the food grain being sold in the local markets at Tk21 to Tk22 per kilogram.
“So many farmers are reluctant to sell paddy at that rate,” he said.
Nazrul Islam, a farmer of village Derua under Magura sadar upazila, said marginal farmer had to sell their paddy just after harvesting. So their storehouse was empty when food procurement had started.
“If the food procurement drive started earlier it could be successful,” he said. He alleged that a syndicate was controlling the market of paddy and rice in the district and they were trying to hike the price of paddy showing various excuses, said sources at food office.
Being motivated by the middlemen, local growers are showing unwillingness to sell their agri-produce, said the sources, adding that consequently, the government is failing to procure paddy.
Sarwar Hossain, a miller in Nanduali area under Magura sadar upazila, said, “I am unable to supply rice under government procurement drive as I am assuming that I would get better prices selling rice at local markets.
“Despite repeated attempts I could not manage a loan from a bank. If government ensures loan facilities for millers’ rice procurement target could be achieved.”
When contacted, Food Controller Magura Selimul Azim admitted that food procurement drive was going at a slow pace.
He hoped that the drive would achieve its target by the stipulated time.
