Boro harvest brings joy, worries to haor farmers

Alam Sarowar Tito :

The Boro paddy harvest has begun across the haor regions of eastern Bangladesh, bringing both celebration and concern among farmers in districts such as Kishoreganj, Habiganj, Netrokona, Sunamganj, and Brahmanbaria. While this year promises a bumper yield, concerns over low market prices and mounting production costs are dampening the festive mood.

The haor landscape is buzzing with activity as golden paddy sways in the wind and farmers, armed with sickles and sun-scorched determination, gather the season’s yield. “It’s like a festival,” said one farmer from Kishoreganj, as men, women, and even schoolchildren joined the harvest, boiling and drying the grain in the Baishakh heat.

But despite the abundant yield, the smiles are tinged with anxiety. Many farmers fear they won’t receive a fair price for their produce. Wet paddy is currently selling at Tk 800–830 per maund—down from an earlier Tk 850–900. With average production costs exceeding Tk 1,050 per maund, farmers are staring at financial losses.

“I borrowed money to cultivate four acres,” said Fazlu Mia from Nikli. “It cost me around Tk 1,200 per maund. Now I’m forced to sell at Tk 800.” Similar frustrations echoed across the region as middlemen swooped in, offering prices far below production costs.

Although the government has fixed procurement prices—Tk 36 per kg for paddy and Tk 49 per kg for parboiled rice under the 2024–25 Boro season initiative—farmers allege that syndicates still dominate government procurement centers, leaving little opportunity for direct sales.

Agricultural officers, meanwhile, have directed farmers to begin harvesting when crops reach 70% maturity to avoid potential damage from natural disasters. Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension in Kishoreganj, Dr. Sadiqur Rahman, confirmed that 25% of the district’s Boro paddy had already been harvested and expects the rest to be completed within days if weather permits.