Although three and a half months have passed since the inauguration, the target of purchasing paddy and rice by the government in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna has not been achieved yet.
The collection of 1,392 metric tonnes of Boro paddy from 463 farmers who won the lottery after registering themselves through the ‘Krishoker App’ and 1008 metric tonnes of rice from 65 mill owners started on April 28, but the target has not been achieved by the authority so far.
Sources said that 1,663 farmers of Chatmohar upazila had applied for registration on the ‘Krishoker App’, launched with the aim of directly benefiting the farmers, during the current paddy and rice procurement season. The last date of application was May 10. Farmers were selected by lottery on 11 May and 463 farmers won the lottery. Although the lottery winning farmers were supposed to supply 3 tons of paddy at the food warehouse at the rate of Tk 27 per kg, many of them did not supply the paddy. In addition, some mill owners also have not yet delivered the required amount of rice. As a result, it is being feared that the desired amount of paddy will not be collected in the upazila this time.
Talking to Chatmohar Upazila Food Controller Shariful Islam and Chatmohar Food Warehouse Officer-in-Charge Mizanur Rahman, it was learned that 1,247 metric tonnes of paddy and 777 metric tonnes of rice have been collected in the upazila so far. “Paddy collection activities are currently closed but the activities will continue till August 31 after resumption. Although the target of rice collection has not been met yet, we hope the target of rice collection will be fulfilled soon”, they added.
Chatmohar Upazila Nirbahi Officer and President of the Paddy Rice Procurement Committee Saikat Islam said, “About 90 per cent of the targeted paddy has been collected so far. Meeting with mill owners, directions have been given to meet the target of rice procurement already.
