Sr. Staff Reporter, Kishoreganj :
Farmers of haor region are passing busy time harvesting Boro paddy, frustrated over not getting fair prices for paddy main crops.
The sun is shining brightly overhead. The hot wind blows across the haor. The smell of new, golden, ripe rice fills the air. Amidst the scorching sun, it’s like a different kind of festival is taking place everywhere. Rice harvesting is underway.
Department of Agricultural has claimed that there has been a bumper harvest of Boro rice in Kishoreganj’s haor areas this time. However, farmers say that the harvest would have been higher if it had not been for the long drought. Meanwhile, most of the rice is being harvested quickly as it is ripe. Workers are busy harvesting rice. However, although the farmers are happy with the harvest, they are disappointed with the price. Still, the fruits of their hard work are being harvested with a smile on their faces. And the wrinkles of worry are gradually increasing on their foreheads. Far from making a profit, the big question is whether the money for the expenses will be raised!
The government has announced it will procure paddy directly from farmers at tk.36 per kg, (tk.1,440 per maund), and rice at tk. 49 per kg.
However, in the open market, price are hovering around tk.950 -1000 per maund; tk.400 to 500 less than the government procurement rate.
Farmer Kalam Miah busy harvesting paddy with his entire family in a large haor in Nikli upazila of Kishoreganj . He has been harvesting paddy for the past week with his wife, three sons and a baby girl to reduce expenses. The work of threshing is now underway. He said that although the yield is good, he is not happy with the price. The question is whether there will be anything left after selling the paddy at this price to settle the debts. The entire family participates in harvesting and threshing rice.
Another farmer, Mazharul when asked how the harvest was, said that he had cultivated paddy on five kathas of land this year. The harvest was also good. “What will happen if the sun-scorched crops are not sold at a good price?” he asked. After a while, he began to speak again, “How will I spend the rest of the year with my wife, children, and elderly parents, how will I pay off the debt, that is the thought that is going through my head all day long.”
The scene is the same in the entire haor including the haor region. Paddy harvesting, threshing and drying in the sun are going on in groups. Women and children are also not sitting still. In the meantime, 65-70 percent of the paddy has been harvested in the haor region.
