Joy of Eid remains elusive to paddy growers
Unable to sell paddy above its production cost, its growers in five upazilas of Lalmonirhat are now puzzled as to how they will bring joy to their family members during this Eid, to be celebrated in less than a week.
With only a handful lucky farmers allowed to sell their produce to the government, at a minimal profit margin, the remaining majority are stuck without any earning despite a bumper harvest.
These farmers were counting on profit made from this harvest this time of the year to cover for the Eid expenses. But the unsold paddy has now left them without any cash, even for their day-to-day expenses.
While some of them, in dire need of cash, are selling their produce for any price they are offered, many others are holding on to their harvest with the hope for better offers in coming days.
A number of the rice farmers, who do not have any other source of income, hoped that the government would urgently arrange financial support for them until they are able to sell the paddy at a profitable rate.
Farmer Montu Miah of Sarpukur Mandaltari village in Aditmari upazila reaped a harvest of 102 maunds (each maund equivalent to about 37 kilogram) paddy from seven bighas of land this season.
He said, “There’ll be no joy of Eid in my family if I’m unable to profit from my paddy. To buy Eid clothes for my two daughters and a son, I’ll need to sell at least 25 maunds of paddy at current rate.”
“We won’t be able to buy new clothes or even afford special meal for the Eid. So, this Eid will not bring any joy to us,” said Nazrul Islam, another farmer in Bhadai village of the same upazila.
Akkel Ali of Mahendranagar village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila said out of total 168 maunds of paddy he harvested this season from 12 bighas of land, he had to sell 30 maunds for Tk 13,200 (Tk 440 per maund) to cover for Eid expenses of his four children and wife.
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