Boro prices high in Magura, low in Sunamganj

MAGURA, May 09: Fair price has brought smile on the faces of Boro cultivators in the district.

Sources said a bumper Boro yield has been achieved in the district this season. Newly-harvested paddy has started appearing in the local market and growers are happy over the market rate.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Magura. sources said around 44,150 hectares of land were brought under the farming of Boro.

Farmer Monirul Islam of Dharla village under Magura Sadar, said he got 60 maunds of Boro production from two bighas of land this year.

He said per maund Boro is being sold at Tk 850 to Tk 900 in the market. "I am expecting to make a net profit of Tk 35,000", he added.

Bakit Hossein, a rice mill owner of Alamkhali village under Sadar upazila, said the government has fixed the paddy procurement rate Tk 38 per kg. "We would be able to make a handsome profit by supplying rice under the drive by purchasing paddy at Tk 900 per maund from the growers.

DAE deputy director Partho Protim Shaha said the district has achieved a bumper Boro yield this season. He expressed the hope that Boro farming will expand in the coming seasons.

Meanwhile, our Sylhet correspondent adds: Farmers of Sunamganj are dissatisfied over the low market price of the newly-harvested Boro paddy this season.

A good number of paddy growers of the district said present market rate is far below their expectation. The paddy is being sold at Tk 600 to Tk 700 per maund in the local market.

Farmer Hafizur Rahman of Derai upazila said, "I spent Tk 30,000 for cultivating Boro on four acres of land while harvest cost stood at Tk 25,000. I got 150 maunds of paddy which market rate is now Tk 90,000."

He said it is tough to repay loans.

Paddy price may improve when the millers will start supply to the government depots, said a farmer of Jogonnathpur said on Tuesday.

Sunamganj District Controller of Food Md Zakaria Mostafa said 1,206 tonnes of boiled rice and 5,482 tonnes of Atap rice is set to be purchased in the district. Some 263 mill owners of the district have signed the contract, he added.