Sylhet Bureau :
The public procurement of Boro paddy in Habiganj is facing a serious setback as the authorities concerned have managed to collect only one tonne of paddy in the last one month, saying the quality of the paddy is not up to the mark.
The Food Department has a target to procure 3,000 tonnes of Boro from different upazilas of the district in four months from May this year.
According to the district food controller’s office in Habiganj, a major portion of the procurement cannot be completed due to lack of quality paddy.
Local farmers, however, alleged that although they are being deprived of selling their paddy in the name of substandard quality, district food officials are collecting paddy from farmersz mostly backed by local influential people.
According to the district agricultural office, about 1,20,000 hectares of land have been brought under Boro cultivation in the district this year and two lakh 40 thousand farmers of all the eight upazilas were issued cards.
The paddy procurement started from May 1 and will continue till August 31.
Many farmers in the district alleged that the district food controller’s office has been purchasing paddy from the mill owners saying the quality of their paddy is not that good.
Farmer Abidur Rahman of Lukra area in Sadar upazila said when they took their paddy to the food office the officials told them the paddy was not dried properly.
Farmer Rahmat Ali of Mokrampur village in Baniarchang upazila said, “Although we are genuine farmers, we did not get government cards.”
Tegharia Union Parishad Chairman Anu Mia said they did not officially announce the list of cardholders yet.
Sadar Upazila Food Officer Mahbubur Rahman said they could not start the procurement process in many upazilas due to shortage of warehouse. However, the procurement process started in some places partially.
Habiganj District Food Controller Abdus Salam said although there are two lakh 40 thousand cardholders in the district, they will collect only three thousand tonnes of paddy.
