A syndicate of middlemen have allegedly been manipulating the price of Aus paddy in local markets of Magura, leaving farmers to face losses.
With this year’s Aus paddy harvest close to completion, farmers in the district have expressed concerns about being deprived of fair prices because of the syndicate.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Magura informed that a total of 5,350 hectares of land was brought under Aus cultivation in the district this year, with an output target of 5,120 tonnes of rice.
Rezaul Mreedha, a farmer of Katakhali village under Magura sadar upazila, said farmers were facing losses as Aush paddy was being sold in the local market at Tk450 to Tk480 per maund (equivalent to 37.32kg), while the production cost was about Tk550 per maund.
Abdush Salam, another farmer from Akshi village in the upzila, said the syndicate of middlemen was dominating the Aus market to cash in more money. The syndicate was exploiting the Aus growers by giving them low prices, he alleged.
Kala Chand, a farmer from Aralia village, said the farmers would receive fair price if the government purchased paddy from the farmers.
Dasharat Kumar Day, a trader who stocks paddy in Notun Bazar area of Magura town, however, denied allegations that a syndicate had been formed, and claimed that prices were low because there was an adequate supply of Aus paddy.
Mokhlesur Rahaman, deputy director of Magura DAE, admitted that the price of Aus paddy in the market was not satisfactory at present.
