Panchbibi (Joypurhat) Correspondent :
Farmers are not interested in giving paddy to government food warehouses as the market price is higher than the price fixed by the government during the current Aman season in Panchbibi Upazila of Joypurhat. As a result, the concerned people fear that the target of purchasing paddy in the current Aman season will be affected. Although the procurement programme was inaugurated on November 24 this year by purchasing 3 tons of paddy, the food warehouse officials could not procure even one gram of paddy after that. However, the concerned warehouse workers are working round the clock to encourage the selected farmers to achieve the target through personal communication, distribution of leaflets, miking and SMS on mobile.
It is learned that in the current Aman season, Panchbibi Food Warehouse has set a target of purchasing 13 MT of paddy at Tk 27 per kg and 27.1 MT of rice at Tk 40 per kg. To that end, 444 farmers in the upazila were selected through online lottery to purchase paddy directly from farmers on the basis of transparency.
But no one is interested in giving paddy to the farmers at the price fixed by the government.
The reason, they say, is that at present the market price of raw paddy is from Rs. 1,000 to Rs.1020. As such, the cost per ounce of paddy ranges from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,250. There are also other costs including transportation fare. According to the Upazila Agriculture Department, the target for the current Aman season is set at 95,360 MT of paddy in 20,015 hectares of land in the upazila. This time the target of paddy and rice has been achieved 100 percent, they said.
On the other hand, there is a fear that the target will not be achieved in the purchase of paddy, but the target for the purchase of rice will be met, said the food warehouse concerned.
They also said that local millers are cooperating with them in that case. Fellow rice mill owner Ayub Ali said that despite some losses, they are trying to meet the procurement target by supplying rice. He and other millers have demanded compensation from the government for the losses.
In this regard, Panchbibi Food Warehouse Officer Mizanur Rahman said, “I am trying my best to fulfill the target of paddy purchase.” Local farmers are already being encouraged to donate paddy through leaflets, miking and personal communication.
But due to no response from any farmer, the procurement activities are limited to 3 tons of paddy bought on the day of inauguration. He said he would continue to do so until the end of the procurement process on February 21 next year.
