The Boro crop has brought no joy to the farmers in northern Bangladesh as the prices of the produce are far below their expectations.
Farmers say much less profit, they are uncertain about whether they can get back the money they had spent on cultivation.
The government has fixed prices for Boro paddy at Tk 821 a maund (37.32 kg) for procurement.
But the prices are not reflected in the markets in Kurhigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Panchagarh and other northern districts.
Paddy is being sold at Tk 500-550 a maund in those districts.
A miller said traders were not purchasing Boro paddy since they had loaded up Aman.
Md Moinul Islam, a farmer at Palashbarhi under Nilphamari district, told bdnews24.com he cultivated Boro on four bighas of land and spent Tk 7,200 per bigha.
He fears a loss of around Tk 2,000 per bigha due to the low prices of the produce.
“How can we afford this loss?” he asked.
Md Ataur Rahman, a contract farmer at Purbo Debiduba under Panchagarh’s Debiganj, also fears making losses.
He said prices of paddy increased by Tk 100 a maund over the past few days, but many farmers had sold their produce in the meantime.
“Creditors want their money back as soon as the harvest is reaped. That’s why farmers need to sell the paddy at whatever the prices are,” he added.
Owner of Haq Rice Mill at Debiganj, Firoz Chowdhury, told bdnews24.com the traders who bought paddy were less interested in Boro until now as they had stock of Aman.
He said Indian rice finding their way into the market hurt the farmers.
Nilphamari District Food Controller Md Shafiqul Islam told bdnews24.com rice and paddy would be procured this year too.
He said they would sign contracts with millers by May 31 for the procurement.
Source: Bd news24
To save the farmers, back bone of our agriculture, a pro-people govt would have purchased the entire crop at cost price instead of allowing large imports from India.
Paddy now sells for 500-600 taka, 200 less than cost per maund !! If it were in India, farmers would have committed suicide.