Food procurement drive faces setback in 8 N dists
The official food procurement drive has been facing a setback although 2.61 lakh tonnes of foodgrains were procured in eight northern districts till July 20 this year, official sources said.
The drive began on April 6 this year with a target of procuring 4.10 lakh tonnes of foodgrains. It went on smoothly till June 30. But it slowed down in the beginning of July following inadequate supply of grains and reluctance of millers to supply grains to government godowns causing a major setback in attainment of the official target by August 31.
Despite signing of agreements, millers non-cooperated with the administration by not selling grains to government godowns at an official rate of Tk 28 a kg while a kg coarse rice is selling in markets at Tk 33 in local markets.
However, a high official of the Food Department said the government is not thinking of increasing the official procurement rate. He termed the soaring price of rice to be artificial caused due to hoarding by big farmers, stockists and others.
Taking big cash credit loan from banks, the millers hoarded paddy in large quantity adopting various techniques, sources said. To evade wrath of joint forces or monitoring by the authorities concerned, they stored paddy at traditional godowns called 'Gola Ghar' of their friends, relatives or agents in rural areas, making it very difficult to detect them. Big farmers hoarded paddy to earn a big profit in future. Even people belonging to low income group hoarded paddy or rice taking loan from NGOs out of panic.
The government intensified its anti-hoarding measures and took action against the millers for their alleged non-cooperation with administration.
Food Department issued directives to the millers in the northern districts asking them to submit statement mentioning stock position of grains and location of their godowns every fortnight to the deputy commissioners concerned.
Following issuance of Rice Procurement and Control Order-2008, the millers seeking to procure foodgrains or sell it to markets should obtain licence from the relevant authorities. They will have to face punishment including cancellation of licence for their failure to comply with rules or refusal to supply rice to government godowns as per agreement, sources said.
Meanwhile, licence of 728 rice mills have been cancelled in eight districts till now for failure to supply grains to government.
Food Department signed an agreement with 4,776 rice mill owners to supply grains to government godowns.
Nilphamari deputy commissioner Rashidul Hasan said the government is determined to make sure that all its godowns have sufficient stock of foodgrains through procurement from local sources.
Uttor Banga Rice Mills Owners' Association vice president Raqibul Alam Chowdhury blamed unscrupulous people and big farmers for creating the situation.
He said they incur loss of Tk 3 to 4 for each kg of rice to supply rice to the government. He demended that the government pay its carrying cost.
Rajshahi divisional regional controller of food Mosharaf Hossain said they had attained 61 percent of grains procurement target in 16 districts of the division.
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