Bumper output makes Sherpur paddy farmers unhappy

SHERPUR, May 5 (UNB): The paddy farmers of the district are passing their days in great anxiety, as they are apprehending of incurring a vast loss due to low prices of Boro crop at growers' level.
The farmers of the district have started harvesting the Boro crops.
At present, per maund of Boro paddy is selling at Tk 300 to Tk 420 at the growers' level, and between Tk 400 and Tk 600 at the local markets in the district, though the production cost this season is estimated to be around Tk 800.
Although the government has announced to start paddy procurement - offering a price of Tk 32 for per kg rice and Tk 22 for per kg paddy - from May 1, it has failed to create any impact on the paddy price in the district.
Dulal Mian, a farmer of Bhatshala village in Sadar upazila, said he is selling the paddy at Tk 400 per maund, whereas he has to pay Tk 500 as wage for each of the day labourers who are harvesting the paddy.
"I've spent about Tk 32,000 for cultivating paddy on one acre of land. I've harvested about 70 maunds of paddy from the field that are selling at Tk 400 per maund. Though the production is fine, it is causing me a enormous loss," he said.
According to the officials at Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the paddy production will exceed the target of 0.36 million tonnes as more lands in the district were brought under Boro cultivation this season compared to the previous season.
Deputy Director of the DAE Dr Md Abdus Salam said the price of paddy at the growers' level is low now, but it is expected to increase with the start of the government's procurement drive in the district.
Farmers, however, expressed their doubt over the prospect of increase in the paddy prices with the start of the government's procurement drive because the government will collect the rice and paddy from the traders, not from the farmers.