Farmers in the haor regions of Netrakona are frustrated over not getting fair prices for their Boro paddy, despite a promising yield and the harvest season being in full swing.
Many growers said although production has been good this year, they are being forced to sell their produce at prices that barely cover production costs, making it difficult to break even. Due to a lack of cash in hand, many are having to sell their crops at low rates to seasonal middlemen, who are profiting at their expense.
As of today, around 40 percent of Boro paddy cultivated on 41,075 hectares across 134 haors in the district had already been harvested, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Netrakona.
Farmers said they are often compelled to sell their crops at significantly lower prices before even storing them due to urgent financial needs.
"I don't have cash in hand, so I'm selling my paddy in advance. The middlemen are offering only Tk 950–1,000 per maund (37.5 kilogrammes)," said Tofayel Khan, a farmer from the Dingapota Haor area in Mohanganj upazila.
"Taking the crop to the market might fetch a slightly better price, but the cost of transportation cancels that out. That's why I'm selling directly from the field," he added.
A similar situation prevails in Shyampur village of Krishnapur union in Khaliajuri upazila.
Local farmer Sukhmoy Sarkar said, "I had to borrow money for cultivation. Now I must repay my debts. Even if the price is low, I have to sell the paddy early to maintain my dignity."
The government has recently announced it will procure paddy directly from farmers at Tk 36 per kilogramme (Tk 1,440 per maund) and rice at Tk 49 per kilogramme. However, in the open market, prices are hovering around Tk 950–1,000 per maund -- Tk 400–500 less than the government procurement rate.
"Many farmers here don't have proper storage facilities for their paddy. During the monsoon, floodwaters often enter their homes. As a result, they are compelled to sell their produce in advance," said Mohammad Diluar Husen, agriculture officer of Khaliajuri upazila.
Halim Uddin, a middleman purchasing paddy in Muslimpur village near Chhaya Haor, said, "We're here to do business. If we buy at higher rates, we won't make a profit. And the farmers wouldn't sell to us if the price didn't suit them."
"A total of 185,460 hectares of land have been brought under Boro cultivation across the district this year. The expected yield is around 12.62 lakh tonnes. Of this, the haor regions alone may produce about 2.8 lakh tonnes, with an estimated market value of Tk 1,008 crore," said Mohammad Nuruzzaman, deputy director of the DAE in Netrakona.
"If the weather remains favourable, the harvest will be good," he added.
"However, due to financial pressure and outstanding debts, many farmers are being forced to sell their produce at low prices. As a result, they are being deprived of fair value," he also said.
