This year, the government’s Boro-season paddy purchase began in May in Jamalganj upazila of Sunamganj. But a month after its launch, the paddy procurement program has been suspended because of a sack shortage. Farmers have been left in difficulty as a result.
According to the upazila food department, on May 19 the member of parliament for Sunamganj-1, Kamruzzaman Kamrul, inaugurated the Boro paddy procurement program, buying from farmers in various unions of the upazila through a lottery. The target for government paddy procurement in Jamalganj upazila this season was set at 2,373 tonnes. Although the program ran from the inauguration until the first week of this month, it has now been temporarily suspended because of a jute-sack shortage.
Meanwhile, concern has arisen over whether farmers who registered and were selected by lottery to sell paddy at the government-set price will be able to deliver their paddy to the warehouse within the set time. They demand that the sack shortage be resolved quickly and paddy procurement resumed, so they can sell their produce at a fair price.
Farmer Md. Ahid Mia said: “I took a serial number to deliver paddy about ten days ago. But now I can’t deliver the paddy because there are no jute sacks.” A farmer named Sajal Sarkar said: “Because of the sack shortage I’m in great difficulty not being able to deliver paddy. I’m selling paddy for the money. But if I don’t get the money on time, what use is the money later?”
The upazila’s acting food warehouse officer, Md. Nurul Islam, said: “We have procured about 800 tonnes of paddy so far. It’s not just Jamalganj upazila — there is a sack shortage in the warehouses of Sunamganj district too. Paddy procurement in our upazila is suspended for now.” He said: “We have contacted the divisional officials. We hope the sacks will arrive soon. Then paddy procurement will resume.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report