Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
Farmers in Ishwardi are worried about rising prices of diesel and other crops. Now that the Aman paddy has been harvested, farmers are busy cultivating wheat as well as potatoes, onions, garlic, khesari, peas, lentils and winter vegetables. But during the Rabi season, they are in trouble due to the increase in the wages of the workers with all the equipment of cultivation.
Farmers said that with the increase in diesel prices, the cost of labor and irrigation has increased. Earlier, it cost Tk 300 to cultivate one bigha of land with tractor and power tiller. After the increase in diesel price, tractor drivers and owners are taking Tk 350 to Tk. 400 per bigha. And the wages of the workers have increased from Tk 400 to Tk 600 and the farmers are in trouble. On Saturday morning, it was seen that in some places of Ishwardi Upazila, the farmers have started cultivating lentils and wheat in the fields of vast areas. Land is being cultivated with diesel powered tractors and power trolleys and laborers. Wheat, onion and vegetable lands are being irrigated with shallow engine.
According to sub-agricultural assistants Sujon Roy and farmers, a large portion of the total diesel demand in the country is used for crop production and transportation of agricultural products. If the price of diesel increases by Tk 15 per liter, the production cost of the crop will increase by about thirty percent. This is hurting the agricultural economy.
It has been found out that diesel used to be sold at Tk 65 per liter at various oil pumps in Ishwardi but now it is being sold at Tk 80 with an increase of Tk 15. And in the union level rural hat-bazaar, local retailers are selling diesel at a higher price of 3 to 5 taka.
