Low prices upset Aman growers

Despite bumper production of Aman this year, farmers in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh are disappointed due to price fall at local markets.  

Although the price has increased a little after the government's announcement of rice procurement price of Tk 36 per kg, farmers are not satisfied as it is lower compared to the last season.

The marginal and small farmers are compelled to sell their produce soon after harvesting to meet their current expenses instead of waiting for price increase, farmers said.              

Thakurgaon Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Deputy Director (DD) Md Aftab Hossain said Aman was cultivated on 1,36,790 hectares of land against the target of 1,37,141 hectares, with production target of 3,90,330 tonnes of rice.

In Panchagarh, Aman has been cultivated on 98,515 hectares of land against the target of 97,918 hectares, with production target of 2,76,359 tonnes of rice, said Panchagarh DAE DD Sheikh Abu Bakkar Siddique.

Farmers have harvested 62 percent of the paddy in Thakurgaon and 74 percent in Panchagarh, with production rate of 3.24 tonnes per acre against the target of 2.82 tonnes, he said.

Farmers said the prices should be Tk 800 to Tk 820 per maund (one maund=40kg), depending on variety, to earn profit. 

“If the rice procurement drive had started in time, they could have averted the losses at least,” said farmer Momtazur Rahman in Boda upazila of Panchagarh.

Sirajul Islam said he cultivated Aman paddy on 50 decimals of land spending Tk 12,000 and got 20 maunds of paddy. It is hard to make profit from the produce as he sold half of it for Tk 640 per maund, he added.    

Each maund of paddy is being sold at Tk 700 to Tk 720 at local markets, which is lower than the previous year.   

It was found that a maund of widely cultivated 'guti swarna' paddy is selling at Tk 700 to Tk 710 at Khochabari Haat and Madarganj Haat in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila and Boda Haat, Moidandighi Haat and Sakowa Bazar in Boda upazila of Panchagarh. The price was Tk 790 to Tk 800 last season.  

Paddy trader Md Samsul Alam at Boda Haat said paddy is being sold at Tk 700 to Tk 720 per maund at present.

He said shortage of buyers is another reason for the drop in price. 

Husking mill owner Md Altaf Hossain said the buyers are keeping an eye on the political situation as the general election is ahead. The price may increase a little within a few days as the government declared rice procurement price at Tk 36 per kg , he added.  

Aftab said farmers got a good harvest due to favourable weather and timely supply of agricultural inputs.

District Food Controller Mohammad Babul Hossain said the paddy procurement drive is scheduled to start from December 1.