Farmers fume over flying farming cost

Staff Reporter :
Boro paddy farmers in Bangladesh are facing financial hardship as the current wholesale prices of boro paddy are not even covering their production costs.

This year, the cultivation costs of boro paddy have increased significantly due to several factors, including a severe drought, rising irrigation costs, and a spike in the prices of farm inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides, and diesel.
Agricultural experts estimate that the production cost of boro paddy has increased by 20-50% compared to the last year.

Despite the rising production costs, the wholesale prices of boro paddy (coarse variety) are currently ranging from Tk 900 to Tk 1,200 per maund (40 kg).

The significant disparity between production costs and selling prices has resulted in substantial financial losses for farmers.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) had brought a total of 2,57,020 hectares of land under Boro cultivation this year with a production target of 11,38,871 metric tonnes of clean rice.

Boro cultivators said the per Bigha (33 decimal) average cost of production boro was between Tk 13,000 to Tk 14,000. However, this year it has increased by Tk 4,000 and Tk 5,000 due to the rising cost of irrigation, fertilizer, pesticides, wages, threshing, and transportation.

They claimed that the price of boro paddy is not a fair price and does not meet their expectations. Data collected from districts including Rangpur, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Pabna, Magura, Kushtia, Jessore, and haor areas show that different types of paddy, including BR-28, BR-29, and Heera, are selling at Tk 900-1150 per maund (40kg).

As a result, farmers are facing financial losses, while millers and traders are expected to benefit.

Farmers voiced their concerns about the rising production costs and low market price of paddy. Shoriful Islam, a farmer from Magura sadar upazila, highlighted the significant increase in electricity, diesel, fertilizer, and labor costs, leading to a production cost of around Tk 1,200 per mound of paddy.

“But the government’s set procurement price is almost the same. How will I make a profit?” he questioned.

Similarly, Imran Gazi, a farmer from Dinajpur’s Birol upazila, echoed these concerns, stating that the government’s procurement price of Tk 32 per kg barely covers their production costs.

Agricultural economists suggested that the government should start procuring paddy and rice directly from farmers at the beginning of the season to ensure they receive a fair price and prevent middlemen from exploiting the situation. The government’s current procurement period began on May 7 and will continue till August 31.