RAJSHAHI, June 3: The farmers of the district are facing financial crisis in shopping for Eid. In the current Boro season, due to the low price of paddy, the farmers faced losses and financial crises.
Low price of paddy is affecting the Eid bazaars. Farmers are frustrated over the lower price.
Although they harvested the paddy, they are not getting fair price, they are facing losses.
The marginal farmers of the district cannot buy gifts for their family members. Thus, the Eid bazaars have not got the festive vibe.
The marginal farmers had purchased fertilisers, pesticides on due. The shops started their halkhata (ledger). The marginal farmers are facing setbacks in paying the dues. Also, they are not being able to buy Eid clothes on the other hand.
Traders are also struggling to get their dues back. Marginal farmers are not being able to pay back; they are also facing setbacks in collecting the due amount. Traders said that they opened their ledger thinking that the farmer may use the money in Eid shopping since Eid is ahead and the price of paddy is low.
They fell in trouble; the farmers are not coming to clear the dues. If someone comes, he pays half amount and is taking more time. Farmers said that they saw a bumper yield of Boro. They said that 80 per cent farmers buy fertilisers, pesticides on due for Boro cultivation.
After harvesting the crop, the traders opened their ledger. Although the farmers harvested, due to the low price of paddy, they are not being able to pay the dues. They said that if they sell the paddies at the current price, they won't get the production cost. They are waiting for the price to go up. Five pesticide dealers at Mundmala Bazar of Tanore Upazila of the district opened their ledger book on Monday last.
The owner of Shibli Traders said that about 420 farmers bought fertilisers, pesticides worth about Tk 25 lakh on the current Boro season.
He opened his halkhata on Monday and Tuesday. Only 50 to 60 of the 420 farmers came to pay the dues. Of them, some could not pay the whole amount. They paid just a little amount. The correspondent found lower crowd at shops.
Businessmen said that since the upazila is dependent on paddy, due to low price of paddy, the markets are also getting affected. Farmers said that since the price of paddy was low this year, the harvest cost also saw a rise. Farmers could not get even the production cost.
They depend on paddy. They buy Eid items with the income from the paddy. This year, frustration spread over the houses of the farmers.
This year the haat-bazaars did not see any crowd either.
