Food procurement drive hobbles in Khulna div
Our Correspondent | Monday, 9 June 2008
KHULNA, June 8: Boro procurement drive is going very slow in ten districts of Khulna division in this season due to higher price of paddy and rice in the local markets than the rate fixed by the government.
Official sources said the government had set a target of procuring 1,41,534 tonnes of paddy and 35,663 tonnes of rice from the districts for increasing the stock.
But, the food department procured only 19,901 tonnes of rice during the last 45 days, which is only one-fourth of the target as the drive began April 16 and to continue till August 31.
It is feared that the boro procurement target would not be fulfilled in the current season due to the difference between government and market rates despite bumper boro harvest in these areas.
The government had fixed the procurement price of paddy at Tk 18.00 per kg and rice at Tk 28.00.
Sources said the farmers are reluctant to supply paddy and rice to the procurement centres as they get higher price in the local markets.
However, the food department officials expected that they have enough time to procure the food grains. By this time many districts would have fulfilled their procurement target, they said.
In Khulna, target was fixed at 19,144 tonnes of rice and 2,004 tonnes of paddy. But procurement centers could collect 891 tonnes of rice and 38 of paddy only.
In Bagerhat, target was fixed at 1,449 tonnes rice and 1,414 tonnes paddy, whereas, government procured 40 tonnes rice and 269 tonnes paddy.
In Jessore, target was fixed at 28,784 tonnes rice and 9,757 tonnes paddy. But government procured 3,765 tonnes rice and 379 tonnes paddy.
In Satkhira, target was fixed at 16,403 tonnes rice and 4,459 tonnes paddy. But 4,137 tonnes rice and 1,308 tonnes paddy were procured.
In Jhinaidah, target was fixed at 20,912 tonnes rice and 5,932 tonnes paddy but procured 2,411 tonnes rice only.
In Magura, target was fixed at 8,542 tonnes rice and 2,340 tonnes paddy, but centres could procure 1,921 tonnes nice and 03 tonnes paddy.
In Narail, target was fixed at 4,957 tonnes rice and 2,270 tonnes paddy, but only 848 tonnes rice and 41 tonnes paddy were procured.
In Kustia, target was fixed at 29,666 tonnes rice and 2,105 tonnes paddy, but centres procured 4,431 tonnes rice and 201 tonnes paddy.
In Chuadanga, target was fixed at 8,936 tonnes rice and 2,261 tonnes paddy, but centres procured 872 tonnes rice and 1.99 tonnes paddy.
In Meherpur, target was fixed at 2,746 tonnes rice and 1,746 tonnes paddy, but 586 tonnes rice and only 55 tonnes paddy have been procured so far.
Official sources said the government had set a target of procuring 1,41,534 tonnes of paddy and 35,663 tonnes of rice from the districts for increasing the stock.
But, the food department procured only 19,901 tonnes of rice during the last 45 days, which is only one-fourth of the target as the drive began April 16 and to continue till August 31.
It is feared that the boro procurement target would not be fulfilled in the current season due to the difference between government and market rates despite bumper boro harvest in these areas.
The government had fixed the procurement price of paddy at Tk 18.00 per kg and rice at Tk 28.00.
Sources said the farmers are reluctant to supply paddy and rice to the procurement centres as they get higher price in the local markets.
However, the food department officials expected that they have enough time to procure the food grains. By this time many districts would have fulfilled their procurement target, they said.
In Khulna, target was fixed at 19,144 tonnes of rice and 2,004 tonnes of paddy. But procurement centers could collect 891 tonnes of rice and 38 of paddy only.
In Bagerhat, target was fixed at 1,449 tonnes rice and 1,414 tonnes paddy, whereas, government procured 40 tonnes rice and 269 tonnes paddy.
In Jessore, target was fixed at 28,784 tonnes rice and 9,757 tonnes paddy. But government procured 3,765 tonnes rice and 379 tonnes paddy.
In Satkhira, target was fixed at 16,403 tonnes rice and 4,459 tonnes paddy. But 4,137 tonnes rice and 1,308 tonnes paddy were procured.
In Jhinaidah, target was fixed at 20,912 tonnes rice and 5,932 tonnes paddy but procured 2,411 tonnes rice only.
In Magura, target was fixed at 8,542 tonnes rice and 2,340 tonnes paddy, but centres could procure 1,921 tonnes nice and 03 tonnes paddy.
In Narail, target was fixed at 4,957 tonnes rice and 2,270 tonnes paddy, but only 848 tonnes rice and 41 tonnes paddy were procured.
In Kustia, target was fixed at 29,666 tonnes rice and 2,105 tonnes paddy, but centres procured 4,431 tonnes rice and 201 tonnes paddy.
In Chuadanga, target was fixed at 8,936 tonnes rice and 2,261 tonnes paddy, but centres procured 872 tonnes rice and 1.99 tonnes paddy.
In Meherpur, target was fixed at 2,746 tonnes rice and 1,746 tonnes paddy, but 586 tonnes rice and only 55 tonnes paddy have been procured so far.