RANGPUR, Aug 28: The Aman cultivators of different areas under Rangpur agriculture region are worried due to exorbitant price of Aman saplings.
Peasants of many areas especially Gaibandha, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts are apprehensive about the output of Aman paddy this year, as they are compelled to buy saplings of Aman at higher rate owing to acute scarcity of seedlings in the areas, sources said.
Farmers alleged that production cost of the crop might increase this year which will be severe blow to the growers who are incurring loss due to low price of paddy.
According to sources due to flood Aman seedbeds on vast tract of lands perished in Gaibandha, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts. The crop fields had remained submerged by floodwater for about one month.
Expressing disappointment, a good number of peasants alleged that after recession of floodwater they made vigorous efforts to cultivate Aman but they have been facing serious difficulties due to soaring price of seedlings.
The small and marginal cultivators are the worst sufferers of the circumstances as they are unable to afford such exorbitant price of saplings, it is alleged.
Borhan Mia, a farmer of Ratanpur village at Fulchhari upazila in Gaibandha district told FE that presently, per pon (80 bundles) of Aman saplings are being sold for Tk 600 to Tk 800 while it was Tk 200 to Tk 300 before flood.
Around 320 bundles of saplings are required to cultivate Aman on one bigha of land, he said. Production cost of per bigha of land will increase significantly this year, he apprehended.
The cultivation season will end in the middle of Bangla month of Bhadra but many farmers are still unable to buy saplings which might affect the yield of the crop this year. Many of the growers are losing interest to grow Aman owing to high prices of saplings, Farmers alleged.
Farmer Hafizar Rahman of Badlagari village of Sadullapur upazila said due to flood his three bighas of Aman field were damaged. He took money from a local money lender at high interest to replant Aman. But he became disheartened when he found Aman saplings were selling at a very high price in the market, he added.
Many farmers of Kurigram district including Bhurungamari, Chilmari and Rajibpur upazila alleged that they are not able to buy Aman seedlings due to soaring price.
Additional Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), for Rangpur region Mohammad Ali told The Financial Express that the department has taken adequate post-flood agri-rehabilitation programmes so that the flood-hit farmers can recoup the loss incurred due to flood.
Community Aman seedbeds have already been prepared on 100 acres of land in Gaibandha, 100 acres in Kurigram and two acres in Lalmonirhat to overcome the adverse situation, he also said.
With the assistance of DAE official some 280 floating Aman seedbeds have also been prepared by the growers across the region.
They have advised the growers to cultivate alternative crops to recoup the crop loss, he added.
This year farmers cultivated Aman paddy on around 5,37,000 hectares of land in five districts under the region, DAE sources said.
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