Don’t Let Farmers Lose Interest in Paddy Farming

Why would a farmer continue growing a crop that is inflicting financial losses? Many Aush paddy growers are now facing exactly this dilemma. According to a recent report in this newspaper, farmers in Naogaon, Rangpur, Faridpur and other areas are struggling to sell their paddy at a reasonable price.

The government is encouraging more people to grow Aush to reduce pressure on groundwater and diversify rice cultivation. We understand the need for these goals. But those working the land also have to make a living from it. If paddy farming repeatedly leaves them unable to recover their costs, they will naturally look for other options. That is why the current Aush market cannot be ignored.

The immediate concern is that Aush paddy rates are falling sharply. In Naogaon, cultivators are receiving only Tk650-Tk750 per maund, compared with Tk1,000-Tk1,200 during the same period last year. Meanwhile, rice mills are reducing purchases amid substantial stocks and sluggish sales. Food-grain stocks are reaching 23.41 lakh tonnes on September 12, against 18.67 lakh tonnes a year earlier. Rice imports are also totalling 12.68 lakh tonnes in FY2025-26. Together, these factors are weakening demand for fresh paddy. Farmers, meanwhile, are still bearing the costs of seeds, fertiliser and labour as their earnings fall.

These losses are influencing what farmers are deciding to grow next season. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics data show that Aush output is falling 3 per cent in FY2025-26, while the cultivated area is declining 1.44 per cent. If this trend continues, growers may turn to crops offering more predictable returns. That could also increase reliance on Boro rice, which requires greater groundwater use, particularly in the Barind region. Therefore, the current weakness in the Aush market should not be dismissed as a temporary fluctuation. Farmers will increasingly decide what to grow based on whether they see a viable future in paddy farming.

The government must strengthen support for paddy growers, especially during harvest when rates can fall sharply. Direct buying can create a floor beneath the market. A procurement rate should be announced before or at the beginning of the season, based on cultivation expenses and a reasonable margin for growers. Moreover, a separate rate for Aush should be considered in view of its distinct growing cycle and market conditions. The programme must reach genuine cultivators and cover enough of the crop to influence local trade. Better storage, easier agricultural credit and timely market information are also needed. Concurrently, rice imports should be planned carefully around domestic supply.

We expect policymakers to recognise that farmers are responding to market signals. Cultivation targets alone cannot keep them in paddy farming when they cannot make the economics work. The authorities should monitor farm-gate rates, farming expenses and mill demand and respond when serious imbalances emerge. 

In conclusion, farmers cannot be persuaded to keep growing paddy simply because the country needs more rice. They are making choices based on what their fields can earn. If we want them to stay in paddy farming, the government must ensure that those choices do not come at the expense of their livelihoods.