Food procurement drive faces setback

Our Gaibandha Correspondent reports: The Food Department is yet to collect aman paddy and rice due to higher prices of foodgrains in local markets.

At present paddy is being sold in markets above Tk 30 to 40 per maund than the government rate. Rice is being sold above Tk 100 to 125 per maund than the official rate.

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According to the District Food Controller's Office, the target of paddy procurement drive has been fixed at 1,704 metric tons while that of rice at 3,713 metric tons. Ten procurement centres have been established in the entire district for the purpose.

The drive began on November 25 and will continue till February 28. The government has fixed the procurement rate of paddy at Tk 344 per maund and that of rice at Tk 524 per maund.

While visiting the markets in a few remote areas in the district, this correspondent found that paddy was being sold at between Tk 375 to 380 per maund and rice at Tk 640.

Our Satkhira Correspondent reports: Poor official rate fixed for food procurement drive is the main reason behind its failure.

The government has fixed the price at Tk 1,310 per quintal rice and at Tk 860 per quintal paddy. But rice is being sold at between Tk 1,550 to 1,700 per quintal and paddy is being sold at between Tk 950 to 1,000 in open markets.

According to sources in the Food Department, the government has set a target to procure 1,473 metric tonnes of rice and 1,808 metric tonnes of paddy from nine purchasing centres set up in the district.

There are only 2,107 metric tonnes of rice and 41 metric tonnes of wheat in nine food godowns, according to sources.

The agents failed to collect single grain so far since beginning of the drive on November 25 last year. The drive will end on February 28.

Meanwhile, several projects taken under the Test Relief (TR) and Food for Works schemes remained suspended due to lack of foodgrains in government godowns.