NATORE. June 5: Paddy and rice procurement drive in the northern region dyring the current IRRI-boro season has been facing a serious setback due to various reasons, reports UNB.

Less than five per cent of the target has so far been achieved though more than 20 days has already been passed.

The IRRI-boro paddy and rice procurement drive has been started on May 11 with a target to purchase 1.20 lakh mts of paddy and 80,000 mts of rice at the rate of Ik 7.55 and Tk 12 per kg respectively from the growers. The drive will continue till August 31.

It is learnt that in most of the 170 centres in the region, procurement drive has not been Started in time due to various reasons including demand of quotas of UP chairman, members and influential persons.

When contacted, a senior of-

ficial of the Regional Food Controller. wishing anonymity, told that the officials of the Food Department in the district headquarters are not purchasing the commodity as the paddy and rice contained high percentage of moisture.

The desirable moisture percentage is 14 per cent while the paddy and rice coming to them contained 16-18 per cent moisture. which may be rotten in the godown, he added.

He also said that most of the godowns in the region have been filled up with wheat and other commodities of the last year and the procurement target of rice and paddy during the current season will not be achieved for want of accommodation.

While visiting some markets, it was reported that genuine traders and rice mill owners are not purchasing paddy

while the middlemen and purchasing those at throwaway prices.

So. the bumper production could not bring any good to the growers. The downward trend of the price of paddy put the farmers in an awkward situation.

In all the northern districts, production of paddy has surpassed the target, despite prolonged drought during the cultivation period from January to March.

About 10.000 hectares of land higher than the target had been brought under IRRI-boro cultivation in Natore alone. A bumper production has been recorded in all the northern districts.

But the small and marginal farmers are not getting any benefit this year as they are not getting fair price of their produce.

They have been forced to sell their produce at throwaway prices.