.DINAJPUR, Jan 15: The government paddy procurement drive in the district is likely to miss target as farmers are not giving paddy to food godown because of higher paddy prices in open markets.
but, the rice collection is satisfactory.
According to official sources, so far, 1,387 metric tons (mt) of paddy has been collected in seven upazilas out of total 13 upazilas in the district. In the six upazilas, no paddy was collected.
District Food Controller Subir Nath Chowdhury warned, if contract millers don't give rice, punishment measures will be taken like before.
Till Sunday (Jan 12) only 8 per cent of the targeted paddy was collected. But boiled and non-boiled (Atop) rice have been collected by 64 and 56 per cent respectively during this time.
According to sources at the Food Controller Office-Dinajpur, of the total 1,314 auto and husking mills in Dinajpur, 995 ones have signed contracts for giving rice. The remaining 319 mills didn't sign agreement.
In 2021-22 financial year, 299 licences of rice mills were cancelled in the Aman season, 247 in the Boro season and another 28 licences were cancelled during Aman Season in the same year on charge of not giving rice.
From November 17 campaigns of paddy and rice collections began in the district. It will continue till February 28.
Compared to last year, this year per kilogram (kg) paddy price has been increased by Tk one to Tk 33. The paddy collection target has been fixed at 17,991 mt. So far, 1,387 mt paddy have been collected which is only 8 per cent of the target.
Besides, rice price per kg has been raised by Tk 2 to Tk 47.
This season, in 13 upazilas, 911 mills signed contracts for supplying 52,872.81 mt boiled rice. Besides, agreements were signed with 84 mills for 11,647.68 mt Atop rice at Tk 46 per kg.
Farmer Abdur Rahman said, the market price of paddy is higher than the government fixed rate for paddy. "Besides we have to suffer nine types of problems including bank-based money drawing."
Rice mill owner Abu bakkar Siddiq said, millers are not showing eager to give rice at the government rate as it is less than their production cost.
District Food Controller Subir Nath Chowdhury said, farmers are not giving paddy to food godown for higher paddy prices in open markets.
They don't want to maintain required moisture of paddy as they get profitable prices of normal paddy, he added.
Yet, the rice collection target can be achieved if millers supply rice timely, he maintained.
