Farmers upset as paddy procurement yet to start

Farmers of the district are frustrated as buying of boro paddy from them directly is yet to start after an order from the government.

Though the government declared it would buy one kilogram of paddy at Tk 23 from May 5, it is yet to be materialised.

As a result, farmers are selling their paddy to the wholesale buyers in the local market at a low price, said the affected farmers.

As they are not getting proper price for their product, they are losing interest in cultivating paddy, said Nimai Mondal, secretary of the district unit of Bangladesh Krishak-Khetmajur Samitee.

One maund of paddy is now being sold at TK 420 to Tk 430, which is half of the government rate, he said.

Reza Mohammad Mohsin, district food controller, said they have formed an upazila committee led by UNO to buy paddy from the farmers.