Civil society members formed a human chain in Sunamganj district town on Saturday demanding immediate start of paddy procurement and raising its price — FE Photo SYLHET, May 19: The market price of paddy showed a further downtrend during the last two days in different areas of Sunamganj district.
Coarse paddy was being sold at Tk 450 per maund and finer varieties were at Tk 500 in different markets on Saturday.
Most of the grassroots farmers were compelled to sell out their produce to meet urgent requirements.
The dull market saw further downtrend as the government's procurement programme couldn't be started as yet although it was officially began on April 25. Sunamgaj is considered the highest Boro producing district in the country.
Boro paddy was cultivated on 224,040 hectares of land this year while the yield stood at 1312,500 tonnes.
Meanwhile, civil society members including teachers, lawyers, students, cultural and social activists and others joined the farmers at a human chain at Sunamganj district town demanding immediate increase in the region's paddy procurement target and its price.
The speakers at the rally during the demonstration alleged that taking advantage of the situation some hoarders were controlling the market through syndication.
Moreover, the farmers didn't get satisfactory price this season. Things are being delayed just to benefit the middlemen and influential people, they alleged further.
The Food Department couldn't start their paddy purchase yet, an official informed on Sunday afternoon. However, he said, "We have started rice procurement from the listed millers and so far 355 tonnes of rice had been procured.
It includes, 96 tonnes of parboiled rice and 80 tonnes of Atap rice in Habiganj and only 71 tonnes of parboiled rice in Moulvibazar.
On the other hand, only 108 tonnes of Atap rice have been purchased in Sylhet. Neither rice nor paddy could be procured in Sunamagnj as yet, the source admitted without detailing any reason.
Under the government programme, 68,324 tonnes of rice and 13,803 tonnes of paddy are set to be procured in all the four districts of Sylhet division.
The district controller of Food Md. Zakaria Mostafa said they would purchase paddy from farmers from coming week.
The Food Department recently signed agreements with some 59 millers for parboiled rice and 465 dealers for Atap rice.
The paddy purchase is set to be done from farmers, the official informed further.
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