SYLHET, May 12: As the Food Department couldn't yet start the paddy procurement drive, the poor farmers in Sylhet region are in trouble with their produce due to low market price of the crop.
Officially the government started the drive from April 24, a source informed. However, procedural work would take another week to start the drive at local level, an official said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the activists of 'Haor Banchao, Sunamganj Banchao' staged a human chain at Biswambharpur upazila on Saturday demanding at least 50 per cent government purchase of Boro, produced in the haor region.
Besides, they blamed the Food Department for setting a poor target of paddy purchase from farmers.
The common farmers are passing bad days due to the poor return in price.
Even the newly-harvested Boro is being sold at Tk 450 to Tk 650 at places in the district.
Taking advantage of the situation, a section of farias (middle men) are controlling the market, said a number of farmers.
Harvest of the crop is expected to be completed in a week.
Fine quality paddy of BRRI-28 is being sold at Tk 500 to Tk 520 while the coarse paddy like BRRI-29 at Tk 450 to Tk 480 per maund.
The farmers are compelled to sell their hard -earned crop at lower prices, said a number of locals in Tahirpur upazila.
The coarse paddy is being sold at highest Tk 500 per maund while the finer quality is at Tk 550 at Biswambharpur, said a number of locals. Even the farmers are getting prices below their production cost.
Although the government ordered starting the purchase from April 25, it didn't happen, alleged a number of farmers.
Under the programme of paddy procurement, highest 6,508 tonnes of paddy are set to be procured from Sunamganj, 3,654 tonnes from Habiganj, 2,186 tonnes from Sylhet and lowest 1,455 tonnes from Moulvibazar district.
Venting serious anger a number of farmers like Sabbir Hossain of Shulla upazila said the Food Department had purchased 7,500 tonnes paddy from Sunamganj last year whereas this time the district's target is set at only 6,508 tonnes.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
