Vegetable growers in Magura are facing hardship as they cannot transport their agri-produces due to BNP-led 20-party alliance’s blockade that started on January 5.
According to the Agricultural Extension Department (DAE), Magura, a total of 3,870 hectares of land have been brought under vegetables cultivation with a production target of 11,500 tonnes of vegetables this winter season.
Wholesale traders said about 50-truck vegetables were sent to different parts of the country every day during Robi season, but this year was exceptional because of lack of transportation.
Alem Shikdar, a wholesaler, told the Dhaka Tribune that truck drivers were reluctant to carry vegetables in fear of arson attack.
He said normally transport cost of per truck of vegetables from Magura to Dhaka was Tk18,000.
“But transport owners are now demanding Tk35,000 to 40,000 for per truck,” he said.
Another vegetable trader Akram Mollah said: “I am counting loss of Tk10,000 per day because of the on-going blockade. I had to incur loss of Tk1.5 lakh since January 6 on which day the BNP and its alliance went on blockade.
“I do not know how I will provide salary of my employees salary in the coming month.”
Rashid Alam, wholesale trader of Ramanagar area under Magura sadar upazila said: “I am incuring loss of Tk5,000 each day. I have started spending money from capital. I would not be able to continue my business if I do not get bank loan.”
As traders could not send vegetable to different parts of the country, a huge quantity of vegetables have started rotting. Moreover, growers cannot keep vegetables at cold storage for lack of accommodation crisis.
Besides those, all other vegetables prices are also coming down every day as supply is much higher in comparison to the demand in the local market.
In many cases, the existing prices do not cover the production cost of vegetables.
Rahim Mrida, a vegetable grower at Lakshikandar village under sadar upazila, said a few days ago he was very much excited as he got bumper yield of cauliflower. But now he could not sell the vegetable for lack of customers.
“I was compelled to keep cauliflower at my field as I do not financial ability to keep those at cold storage.”
Deputy director of the DAE Shohrab Hossen admitted that vegetable traders and growers were facing a huge loss due to the blockade.
He apprehended that if the blockade would longer vast majority of the vegetables traders and growers will be destitute.
Manager of Sonali Bank, Magura Safiqul Islam said: “We are aware of the problem of vegetable growers. But we are yet to get any instruction from our superior authority to sanction loan.”
Our Munshiganj correspondent added vegetables growers in Munshiganj are not getting fair prices of their produces due to the indefinite blockade.
Though farmers got higher prices in the beginning of the season, the marketing of the products become impossible because of political unrest, said potato growers.
Deputy Director of Bangladesh Agricultural Department Kazi Abdul Aziz said: “Vegetables growers do not get adequate prices for their product though they have grown more vegetables compared to last season.”
Farmer Abdur Razzak of Rampal said: “Now, two pieces of cabbage are being sold at Tk8-10 while a few days ago only one piece was sold at Tk10-12.”
Munshiganj is the largest potato grower district in Bangladesh. Due to blockade potato growers are also affected. Farmer Akter Mahmud of Tatikandi village of Sadar Upazila said, “Farmers do not get fair prices for their products. The wholesale price of potatoes is Tk10-12 per kg here.”
Jamir Mia of Rampal said: “We have to sell bitter gourd at Tk14-15 while production cost of the vegetable is higher.”
Now per piece pumpkin being sold at Tk25, per kg bean at Tk15, papaya at Tk10.
Farmers from different upazilas of the district said now their main concern is to find a way out to compensate their losses, otherwise many of them would be in trouble to start cultivation in the next session.
