BJMC Magura purchase centre facing severe fund crisis

Our Correspondent
MAGURA, Aug 29: Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation, Magura, purchase centre is suffering extreme fund shortage.
Extreme fund crisis and low procurement rate have left them in uncertainty over achieving procurement target this year.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said some 29,500 hectares of land were brought under jute cultivation this season.
Harvest has already completed and the total production has stood at 2,80,050 bales.
Officials at the purchase center in Notun Bazar area in the district town said they have been facing extreme fund shortage. They are yet to pay Tk 100 million to the traders and farmers as dues of last year.
On the other hand, they are offering Tk 1500 to farmers and traders for a maund jute while it is sold in the local market at Tk 2,000 per maund.
The officials said they have a target to procure 17,000 quintal jute this season. But the achievement is almost nil till August 28. Fund crisis and low purchase rate have raised concern over achieving the target.
Mukter Hossein of Jagla village under Magura Sadar said, "I have sold my 20 maunds of jute to a local trader at Tk 2000 per maund. Earlier I went to BJMC center and they offered me Tk 1500 per maund."
He said, "We go to the government center for more profit. But the scenario is different this year. Government rate is much lower than that of the present market price."
Trader Firoj Munshi of Notun Bazar area of Magura town, "The BJMC did not pay my last year's dues. So I have decided not to sell jute to them this season."
Magura BJMC purchase center assistant manager Moshiur Rahman admitted the present crisis situation.
He said, "We are facing uncertainty over achieving our purchasing target this season."
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