About 1,58,625 metric tons of Boro Paddy are expected to produce in four upazila of Chuadanga district by Boro paddy cultivators whereas 5,310 metric tons of paddy from farmers and 7,605 metric tons of rice from millers will be procured under the auspices of District Food Office this season.
District Lokmorcha of Wave Foundation demanded to purchase boro paddy from real cultivators through a press conference.
According to sources, Boro paddy harvesting was started from middle of April. About 31,725 hectares of land were taken under boro cultivation in the district. Over 80 per cent of boro paddy was harvested by farmers up to date.
It is learnt from Agriculture Extension Department that 29,975 metric tons of boro paddy has been fixed to produce in sadar upazila, 53,450 metric tons of boro paddy in Alamdanga upazila, 44,700 metric tons in Damurhuda upazila and 30,500 metric tons of boro paddy in Jibannagar upazila.
The sources added that 5,995 hectares of land was taken under boro paddy cultivation in sadar upazila, 10,690 hectares of land in Alamdanga upazila, 8,940 hectares of land in Damurhuda upazila and 6,100 hectares of land in Jibannagar upazila. Chuadanga District Food Office started procurement boro paddy from farmers and rice from millers in front of Chuadanga Food Godown on May 13.
An inaugural function was held on the occasion with Rejaul Islam, District Food Controller in the chair. Nazrul Islam Sarker, Deputy Commissioner, was present as chief guest. Ali Hasan, Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Office, Sadequr Rahman, UNO of sadar upazila, Talha Jubayer Masrur, Agriculture Officer, Shahidul Islam, Marketing Officer and Masuduzzaman Litu, Organising Secretary of District Awamileague attended as special guests.
Over 25 maunds of boro paddy from a farmer Anwar Hossain and 4 tons of rice from Miller Hasanuzzaman were bought on the day. This procurement program will continue to fulfill the target.
Rejaul Islam, District Food Controller, said 1800 metric tons of boro paddy have to procure in sadar upazila, 1428 metric tons of paddy in Damurhuda upazila, 1845 metric tons of paddy in Alamdanga upazila and 1029 metric tons of paddy in Jibannagar upazila from farmers. Food Department purchases boro paddy at tk. 1040 per maund from the farmers.
On the other hand, about 1191 metric tons of rice in sadar upazila, 1650 metric tons of rice in Alamdanga upazila, 947 metric tons of rice in Damurhuda upazila and 3817 metric tons of rice in Jibannagar upazila will be purchased from the millers. Food Department buys rice at tk. 1440 per maund from millers.
It may be mentioned here that a press conference was arranged under the auspices of Chuadanga District Lok Morcha of Wave Foundation of May 13 for purchasing paddy from real cultivators. The written statement was read out by its president Adv. Alamgir Hossain. They urged upon the concerned authorities to purchase the paddy from the real boro cultivators according to the principle of boro paddy procurement. Shah Alam Sony, general secretary of the lokmorcha, Golam Mortuza, president of Jibannagar Lokmorcha, Johir Raihan, DD of Wave Foundation and Kamruzzaman Juddha, coordinator of Lokomorcha answered the questions of local journalists.
