Farmers are now busy harvesting Boro paddy across the country. As the Boro harvesting is going on in full swing in different districts of the country, the government has started purchasing Boro paddy directly from the marginal farmers at a fair price under its procurement drive launched on May 6.
This year, the government has set a target to procure 70 percent of Boro paddy within June under the procurement drive which will continue till August 31.
The government will procure 17 lakh tonnes of paddy and rice--- 5 lakh tonnes paddy, 11 lakh tonnes boiled rice and one lakh tonnes Atap rice.
The government-fixed price of Boro paddy is Tk 32 per kg, boiled rice at Tk 45 per kg and Atap rice Tk 44 per kg. Alongside, the government will procure 50,000 tonnes of wheat at Tk 34 per kg.
We think the government’s procurement drive will help the farmers to sell their paddy at fair prices without facing any harassment by the middle-men. The authorities concerned must take immediate action against the syndicate of unscrupulous millers and traders who are now active to manipulate Boro procurement. We have noticed over the past years that when the paddy harvesting season begins, the middle-men and a section of rice millers become active to gain by creating unstable situation. Therefore, illegal hoarders and middlemen must be brought under strict surveillance to make the government’s paddy and rice procurement drive successful.
Take immediate action
against the syndicate of
unscrupulous millers and traders
The officials concerned should be careful so that no farmer face any sort of harassment while going to provide paddy to godown. If they (farmers) get fair price, they will be very much happy. They will also be encouraged to cultivate Boro paddy on larger scale from the next season.
The government will have to extend all-out support to the farmers to help them grow more food in view of the ongoing global crisis caused by war, conflict and sanctions and counter sanctions. All deputy commissioners (food), regional food controllers, deputy assistant officer of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and farmers and rice mills owners will have to procure paddy or rice within the stipulated time to avert any anomalies.
Boro paddy harvesting in the country’s haor (water body) areas is almost over. We hope this year’s Boro harvest will bring smile to the faces of our farmers.
The haor people mainly depend on Boro crops. Every year, they worry about protecting their paddy from flash floods. The flash flood destroys Boro paddy, particularly in the seven haor districts almost every year. But this year, the haor farmers harvested their paddy without facing any natural disaster like flash flood and nor’wester. They have brought home Boro paddy safely.
The farmers of haor areas are the worst sufferers as flash flood pushes them into extreme poverty every year. Crops, especially Boro paddy on vast areas are either damaged or washed way during the period between April and May.
