The New Nation - Internet Edition

Barisal Correspondent

The Boro procurement drive in Barisal district has totally failed as only 0.75% target has been achieved till the closure of the 135 days long drive ended on August 31,2008.

Abu Nayim Mohammad Safiul Alam, District Controller of Food Officer blamed the price fixed for Boro paddy procurement less than the local market price for the failure in achievement of the target

However, he claimed that it was the highest achievement of Boro procurement drive in last five years in the district.

Barisal district Controller of Food Office sources said Boro procurement drive with a target of collecting 3979 metric tons of paddy from the farmers in the current season launched in ten Upazilas of Barisal district on April 16 and ended on August 31.

The price for paddy was fixed at Taka 18 per kilogram and Taka 18 thousand per quintal and only 29.715 (0.75%) metric tons of Borro paddy has been collected during the drive.

In Muladi upazila of the district food department failed to collect a single grain out of targeted 361 metric tons of Boro paddy in this season.

In rest nine upazilas of the district 8.19 out of targeted 371 metric tons of Boro paddy were procured from Barisal Sadar, 5.6 out of 190 metric tons were procured from Babuganj, 2.94 out of 882 metric tons procured from Uzirpur, 0.98 out of 192 metric tons were procured from Bakergnj, 3.55 out of 410 metric tons were procured from Gournadi, 4.2 out of 639 metric tons were procured from Agoiljhara, 1.875 out of 213 metric tons were procured from Hizla, 1.26 out of 434 metric tons were procured from Mehendigonj, 1.12 out of 287 metric tons of Boro paddy were procured from Banaripara .

According to the sources the previous binding of the selling maximum one metric ton of paddy (1000 kilogram) to the local food depot has been removed by the district food procurement committee since last five years and even after that the programme failed due to fixation of lower procurement price than the current market price, the sources added.