Cent percent procurement of rice was achieved, while only 26 percent paddy was reportedly procured through nine food stores in six upazilas in Jhenaidah during the Aman procurement drives 2023-24 fiscal in Jhenaidah.
The mill owners, selected for supplying the foodgrains to respective food stores, had blamed the huge differences in market prices. The department of food in Jhenaidah had admitted the matter.
A source related to the office of the district controller of food (DC Food) in Jhenaidah, the mill owners had supplied 9,084.910 tonnes of rice as against targeted 9,195.390 tonnes which was almost 99 percent of the target.
On the other hand, only 1,063.520 tonnes of paddy were procured out of its target for 4,121 tonnes. It was 25.807 percent against the target during the Aman procurement season.
The sources said, Jhenaidah sadar upazila store authorities had procured cent percent 4,345.110 tonnes, while Hatgopalpur store procured 2,494.450 tonnes which was 95.759 percent of the target. Here all Shailkupa upazila store procured 690.880 tonnes, Harinakundu procured 338.910 tonnes, Kaliganj procured 585.840 tonnes, Barobazar store in Kaliganj procured 92.160 tonnes, Kotchandpur procured 196.980 tonnes, bordering Moheshpur procured 135.990 tonnes and Dattanagar store procured 204.990 tonnes.
On the other hand, the mill owners failed to fulfil their commitment to supply paddy in the food stores during the procurement drives. They said there was gulf of differences in the prices between the government rate and local market prices.
They had hardly procured 1,063.520 tonnes of paddy as against the target for 4,121 tonnes during the procurement drives ended on February 28 last. The mills owners said the government had fixed the price for each kilogram of paddy at Taka 30, while the price was higher in the market.
The farmers did not agree to sale their paddy at the below rate that was liable for least supply of the paddy in the procurement season.
District controller of food in Jhenaidah Mannan Ali when contacted said, the mill owners had played the role for fulfilling target for supplying rice to the government stores in time, while failed to do the same for paddy when the deadline ended on February 28 last.