Our Correspondent :
The government’s rice procurement drive at two food warehouses in Ishwardi has stalled. Meanwhile, there is a risk that the collection target will not be met as the market price has gone up more than the government’s collection price. However, the supply of wheat and paddy is quite satisfactory in Ishwardi food warehouse but it is known to be slow in Muladli.
It is learned that in the current boro season, the procurement drive for paddy and wheat started from May 1 at Ishwardi’s LSD and Muladuli CSD warehouses and from May 7. The LSD godown at Ishwardi was allotted 8,540 MT of rice, 190 MT of paddy and 260 MT of wheat and 8,541 MT of rice at Muladuli CSD, 191 MT of paddy and 261 MT of wheat. This time wheat has been fixed at Tk 28 per kg, paddy at Tk 27 and rice at Tk 40. Although the government has set high prices, at present the market price of paddy and rice is high, which is causing losses to the millers.
The total number of Reich Mills in Ishwardi, including Auto and Husking, was already more than 600. After a reality check, the number of listed mills now stands at 354. ATM Shahidul Haque, Upazila Food Controller, said that this time 354 millers of auto and husking mills have signed an agreement to supply rice to two food warehouses. Millers and farmers started supplying rice and paddy to the warehouses with interest as the government collection price was good. But now the collection has stopped due to rising prices in the market.
