Wheat procurement drive goes on depriving marginal farmers

MAGURA, May 24: Wheat procurement drive is going on in Magura depriving the marginal farmers.
Government runs food wheat procurement drive to ensure fair price for farmers. But the ongoing wheat procurement drive brings no benefit for the marginal farmers as they have no wheat in their store houses.
Magura district food office sources informed they have started wheat procurement drive on April 1 and it will continue till June 30. The procurement target is 2580 tonnes while achievement is 2122 tonnes till May 24.
When contacted, Razzak Sheikh, a farmer of village Abalpur under Magura sadar upazila said, "I cultivated wheat in two bighas of land and my production was 16 maund wheat. Under government procurement wheat is being sold at Tk 28 per kg. But I was compelled to sell my wheat at Tk 20 per kg in March as I was burdened with loan of local money lenders."
Magura district food controller Md Shaiful Alam refuted the allegation and said farmers are still selling wheat under government procurement.     litan1968@gmail.com