Boro procurement drive going on slowly

JHENIDAH, Jun 06: Boro rice procurement drive is going on slowly in Jhenidah as the millers are taking time to supply for adverse weather.
With a target of procuring a total of 10,634 tonne of rice in the district the food department started the drive on May 2, to be continued till August 31.
However, a total of 1185 tonne of the food item was supplied to the government food godown till date, according to the district food office sources.
A total of 446 husking millers and 14 auto rice millers from across the district signed contracts to supply the amount.
But due to adverse weather prevailing here in Jhenidah from the start of the harvesting season until now, the millers could not supply adequate amount of rice.
Though the auto rice millers have been able to supply some rice, the husking millers failed to supply it, sources said.
The government has fixed Tk 38 for per kg rice this Boro season against Tk 39 per kg in the last Aman drive season.
Mohsin Ali Bokul, proprietor of Bokul Auto Rice Mills said, "My trucks carrying 10 per cent to 20 per cent discoloured rice were sent back from the godown gate though there was nothing wrong with the required moisture of below 14 per cent.
So, carrying cost for supplying rice is increasing. This year paddy remained under rainwater for two-three times after cutting in many fields throughout the district, resulting in the discolour of the rice. "
The controller of food, Jhenidah, SM Kaiser Ali held the adverse weather responsible for millers' snail speed to supply rice.
He further said, "We cannot allow more than 1.5 per cent discoloured rice, adding that moisture must be below 14 per cent."

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