Harvesting of Irri-Boro has started in full swing everywhere in the region including its vast barind tract with a positive sign of bumper production. In the current season, 15 to 18 maunds of paddy are being harvested in the high and mid-barind land while 18 to 20 maunds in the floodplain area.
According to the sources concerned, the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) had set a target of bringing around 8.39 lakh hectares of land under the Irri-boro cultivation in eight districts of the region. But the farmers have actually cultivated paddy on around 8.35 lakh hectares. Additional Director of DAE, Rajshahi Region, Nurul Amin told BSS that a number of factors like favourable climatic condition, adequate supply of necessary inputs like mixed fertilizers and pesticides have contributed to the expected bumper output.
“We hope that Irri-Boro production target will be achieved because of availability of irrigation water and also effectively checking pest attacks,” Nurul Amin pointed out. He expects an estimated production of about 33 lakh tonnes of rice this season.
Meanwhile, the harvested paddy have started appearing in the rural hats and other growth centers especially Damkura, Kakonhat, Naohata, Baya, Kaligonj and Baneshwar of Rajshahi, Niamatput, Manda, Badalgachhi of Naogaon, Adamdighi Dupchanchia and Kahalu of Bogra and Bholahat, Shibgonj and Kansat of Chapainawabgonj.
It has been learnt from various sources that despite bumper production, the farmers are not happy in the region as they are being compelled to sell their newly harvested boro paddy in lower prices to meet up their essential needs.
The paddy is being sold at Taka 600 to 650 per maund depending on their quality at all the trading points.
Many of the farmers were seen selling their paddy at the rate to repay the loans and dues borrowed from different money lenders to meet up the essential needs.
Afsar Ali, a farmer of Saranjai village under Tanore Upazila of the district, expressed his resentment over the market price and said the price is not enough to recoup the production cost. “I have been passing my days with deep anxiety to repay the loans and other debts for the last couple of weeks,” he added.
Another farmer Abdul Hamid of Silimpur village under the same upazila said the price of all essential commodities have hiked except the price of the newly harvested paddy, triggering livelihood cost of the farmers.
Farmer Kabirul Islam of Palpur village under Godagari upazila told BSS that the government level procurement activity has not started in the district as yet. On the contrary, he mentioned that the farmers have no scope to sell their paddy to the government godowns directly as there are many obstacles to this end.
Taking advantage of the situation, the millers with the help of their appointed middlemen purchase paddy in lower prices randomly and this is detrimental to the interests of the farmers, he added.
