Even after extension of time repeatedly the much-talked about food grain procurement target couldn't be achieved in Sylhet division as the programme ended on Monday.
Only 28,832 tonnes of paddy were procured from the farmers against the targeted 69,886 tonnes while the rice procurement stood at 37,872 tonnes amid a target at 61,958 tonnes, officials said.
According to the report from districts, 2731 tonnes of paddy were bought from the farmers in Sylhet, having a target of 7329 tonnes, 4768 tonnes in Moulvibazar against targeted 8825 tonnes, 4,721 mts in Habiganj against targeted 21,068 tonnes and 16,613 tonnes in Sunamganj, having the target at 32,644 tonnes.
However, 37,872 tonnes of rice against the target of 61,958 tonnes were purchased from the 504 contract millers in the division. It includes 16,524 tonnes of parboiled and 21,348 tonnes of Atap.
Amid a bumper yield, the government had decided to buy paddy from farmers, selected through the upazila level lottery.
But, many of the lottery winning farmers didn't respond, blaming harassment and lengthy process at the purchasing centres.
However, often they were denied at the centres for reasons unknown, alleged a number of farmers.
On the other hand, many of them claimed the officials at the depots are more interested in buying rice from the millers.
DAE said the Boro paddy yield in the Sylhet region had stood at 2.824 million tonnes this year while the food department set to buy 69,886 tonnes of paddy from farmers at the rate of Tk 26 per kg.
Contacted, the Regional Controller of Food, Sylhet division Amzad Hosain told this correspondent, the procurement had been badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
On the other hand, excess rains and floods also hit the programme much. Even then, we had tried to achieve the targets, he added. He however, denied irregularity in the purchasing process while many farmers had won the lottery, but didn't supply paddy.