In five years the Rajshahi food department has not procured more than 12 per cent of its paddy target. Farmers are reluctant to sell paddy to government warehouses because of various hassles.

According to food department sources, the aman procurement target for 2020-21 was 49,845 tonnes, and 1,108 tonnes were procured, which the department puts at 1.22 per cent of the target. In 2021-22 the target was 43,404 tonnes and 5,575 tonnes were procured, 12 per cent of the target.

In 2022-23 the target was 45,767 tonnes and only 7 tonnes were procured, given as 0.15 per cent of the target. In 2023-24 the target was 31,556 tonnes and 3,482 tonnes were procured, 11 per cent. In the latest season, 2024-25, the target is 56,359 tonnes and 395 tonnes have been procured so far, 0.7 per cent.

Government procurement of paddy and rice from farmers in the division has slumped this season. Against the government's fixed price of Tk 1,320 a maund, farmers are getting Tk 1,500-1,600 in the market. With market prices higher, farmers have no interest in giving aman paddy to the warehouses, and the procurement drive has largely failed.

Farmer Enamul Haque said it is better to sell outside than to the government. "The government will pay Tk 1,320, while outside it is over Tk 1,500. On top of that the government buys on credit, whereas outside it's cash." He added: "We grow paddy on loans, so as soon as the paddy is harvested the creditors turn up. How can we give paddy to the government? So we sell outside."

Alimuddin, a farmer from Paba, said: "We are getting a higher price outside. So why should we sell to the government cheaper at a loss? Selling on the open market is less trouble and pays more."

Md Motiur Rahman, owner of FM Auto Rice Mill in Rajshahi, said millers are in trouble supplying rice at the government's fixed price and are counting losses. They are supplying the government only because they are forced to, to save their licences.

Divisional food controller Md Main Uddin said farmers' interest is falling because paddy prices in the market are higher, but the government is working on the issue.

Dr Aminul Haque, a professor in the Faculty of Agriculture at Rajshahi University, said the government usually buys paddy 10-15 days after harvest, which is too late, and it also pays less. That is why farmers are losing interest.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.