The New Nation - Internet Edition

The government's rice and paddy procurement drive is likely to fail to achieve its target in 10 districts of Khulna division during the current season. Food officials have set a target to procure 1.77 lakh mts, including 1.41 lakh mts rice and 35,633 mts paddy, from 10 districts during the current procurement drive that started in the division on April 16. But it has so far purchased only 66,019 mts of paddy and rice from the division. Local administration and Food Department are very much active to gear up the current procurement drive but it is not working properly due to various impediments. Millers, who signed contract with the government, could not supply rice and paddy to the godown as farmers are showing reluctance to sell their crops to them due to its lower price than the local market price.Local administration and Food Department have already issued letters to a number of millers, who failed to supply the rice and paddy according to the contract, asking why their licenses would not be cancelled.Moreover, the government has also cancelled licenses of some rice mills as those failed to fulfill the contract with the government.