RAJSHAHI, Dec 30: The festive mood of election is prevailing in the country. But, the farmers of the Barind region area are unhappy as they are not getting fair price of Aman paddy.
They have already harvested the paddy. There is no enthusiasm among them regarding election. The electoral flame has been covered up for the dissatisfaction of the farmers.
The Barind farmers said the administrative officers are passing busy moment with election. But no one is looking over the price fall of Aman paddy. The farmers are counting loss for the lowest price of the paddy. The Aman paddy was sold at Taka 900 to 950 per maund last year, but this year the same Aman paddy is selling at Taka 650 to 700.
The farmers also said they cultivate Aman paddy depending on rainwater. At the beginning, the attack of insect and lack of rain water hampered the cultivation. So, the farmers have to arrange more irrigation and use more pesticides. As a result, the production cost increases.
Some five wholesalers who buy paddy from several upazilas of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj said the position of paddy market is not stable now. The buying and selling has reduced. The mill owners are not so interested to buy paddy. So, they are buying paddy from the farmers in small scale, they said. They also said the price of per maund Aman paddy is Taka 650 to 680, which was Taka 880 to 950 last year.
On the other hand, the government did not fix the price of paddy till date. But the government has announced to purchase rice. But no activities have yet been seen.
Last year, the government fixed the price at Taka 1,040 for per maund when the farmers got fair price. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), the target of Aman cultivation was fixed on 73,387 hectares of land. The Aman will be cultivated on 3.50 lakh ha of land. Tanore Upazila Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Shamsher Ali said the election is going. The price of paddy will increase after election. So, he urged the farmers to keep patience.
