Food procurement drives in Khulna, Bogra fail
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
Our Correspondents
KHULNA, Dec 31: Food procurement drives in ten districts under the Khulna division failed due to higher prices of paddy and rice in local markets than the rates fixed by the government.
Official sources said the government set a target to procure 11,514 tonnes of paddy and rice from the aforesaid districts in the Aman season.
But, the district food departments could not purchase a substantial quantity of foodgrains over the last 40 days.
However, the drive began on November 20, 2007 and would continue until February 28 next.
Although the government fixed the price of per kg paddy at Tk 12.00 and rice at Tk 20.00 per kg paddy was being sold at Tk 22 and rice at Tk 30 per kg in the open market last week.
Sources further said the local farmers hardly show any interest in supplying paddy and rice to the government procurement centres as they get comparatively high prices in the local markets.
Our Bogra correspondent adds: The district food department begins the new year (2008) with a food stock less than that of the previous year.
On the first day of 2007 stock of foodgrains was 41,885 tonnes but on the first day of the new year the stock will be nearly 20,000 tonnes.
Due to the failure of Aman paddy, the crop procurement drive could not succeed, the sources added.
KHULNA, Dec 31: Food procurement drives in ten districts under the Khulna division failed due to higher prices of paddy and rice in local markets than the rates fixed by the government.
Official sources said the government set a target to procure 11,514 tonnes of paddy and rice from the aforesaid districts in the Aman season.
But, the district food departments could not purchase a substantial quantity of foodgrains over the last 40 days.
However, the drive began on November 20, 2007 and would continue until February 28 next.
Although the government fixed the price of per kg paddy at Tk 12.00 and rice at Tk 20.00 per kg paddy was being sold at Tk 22 and rice at Tk 30 per kg in the open market last week.
Sources further said the local farmers hardly show any interest in supplying paddy and rice to the government procurement centres as they get comparatively high prices in the local markets.
Our Bogra correspondent adds: The district food department begins the new year (2008) with a food stock less than that of the previous year.
On the first day of 2007 stock of foodgrains was 41,885 tonnes but on the first day of the new year the stock will be nearly 20,000 tonnes.
Due to the failure of Aman paddy, the crop procurement drive could not succeed, the sources added.