Rice procurement falls short of target in Sylhet region
The procurement drives fall well short of target in four districts of Sylhet region this year due to repeated crop losses by frequent floods and inundation of paddy fields.
"Excessive rain and water rolling down from the upper stream of Indian states attributed around Tk 1200 crore crop loss in the region," said Dulal Chandra Sarkar, director of Department of Agriculture (DAE), Sylhet region.
The procurement drive in the region earlier ended on September 30. Despite time extension for 15 more days, the officials are not hopeful of achieving the target, Dulal added.
Till September 30, a total of 948 tonnes of rice was procured against the target of 5177 tonnes while only 269 tonnes of paddy was collected against 11,677 tonnes in the region.
The stock of rice, however, stands at 5500 tonnes while paddy stands at 16,512 tonnes at government food godowns to meet any natural calamity in the region, official sources informed.
Only 42.7 tonnes of rice was collected against the target of 610 tonnes while 2.1 tonnes of paddy were collected against the target of 1493 tonnes in Sylhet district. The stock of rice stands at 10 tonnes while paddy stands at 9060 metric tones in the district.
In Moulvibazar, 107.6 tonnes of rice was procured against the target of 1356 tonnes while 64.1 tonnes of paddy was procured against 1436 tonnes. The stock of rice stands at 7184 tonnes while paddy at 64 tonnes in the district.
The food officials managed to procure 733.4 tonnes of rice against the target of 2192 tonnes while the paddy procurement stood at 207.1 against the target of 3381 tonnes in Habiganj. The stock of rice stands 5423 tonnes while paddy at 203 tonnes in the district.
In Sunamganj district, the rice procurement was at 64.6 metric tonnes against the target of 1019 metric tonnes while the paddy collection was nil against a target of 5367 metric tonnes. The stock of rice stands at 75.4 metric tonnes in the district.
Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board, Sylhet Md Shafiqul Islam said the region experienced highest rainfall in 20 years this year. Inundation in the areas was for longer than usual times, he added.
Additional Regional Director, Food, Muhibul Haque said the government target may not be achieved this year as the region was battered by the natural calamities several times.
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