Despite bumper production of aman paddy in the districts, farmers are frustrated due to its drastic fall of prices in the local markets.
Sources said the harvesting season of the paddy had already started with full speed, but farmers were frustrated as the price of their produce fell. As a result, they were worried about recouping their production cost.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE sources, the paddy was cultivated on around 60,000 hectares of land in 82 unions of nine upazilas in the district, and the production target was fixed around 2.5 lakh tonnes this year.
The production was satisfactory at Tarash, Ullahpara, Shahzadpur and Raiganj upazilas including char areas of Chalan Beel and several other areas.
In local markets, per maund new paddy is selling at Tk500 to 510, BRRI-32 atTk 540 to 550, BINA-7 at Tk580 to 600, and Pazam at Tk670 to 700.
Momin Ali, a farmer at Dhamainagar union in Raiganj upazila said: “I cultivated the paddy on 10 bighas of land with an expenditure of Tk12,000 to 15,000 in per bigha. I got around 15 to 18 maunds paddy from per bigha. In local markets, per maund paddy is selling at Tk520 to 600.If the full-fledged harvest starts, the price will fall further.”
“For cultivating the crop, I took loan from banks and moneylenders, but the production was unsatisfactory. Now, I am worried about recouping the production cost,” he also said.
Farmers Jasimuddin, Nazrul, Selim, Borhanuddin and Sekender echoed the voice of Momin.
Deputy Director (DD) of DAE Omar Ali Sheikh said:”Prices of old IRRI and Boro paddies are observing a downward trend in line with the new paddies.”
“In the last one week, the price of old variety paddies decreased atTk 70 to 90 in per maund. One week ago, the same amount of BRRI-29 was being sold atTk780, and Hira paddy atTk 600. But now, with the arrival of new aman paddy, BRRI-29 is selling at Tk700 to 710 and Hira paddy at 500 to 510 per maund,” he also said.
District Food Control Officer Jahirul Islam said: “The government’s drive to buy the paddy at fair rates will start soon and the farmers will be able to overcome the problem.”
