Farmers in northern dists hit hard by blockade

Farmers in the northern districts are in dire straits as prices of their produce have declined drastically due to widespread disruption to transport of crops caused by the non-stop blockade and frequent hartals.
Prices of potato, ginger, seasonal vegetables and milk dropped to a record low this season as normal trading was hampered seriously due to the marathon blockade that began on January 6, according to farmers, officials and traders.
Prices of potato, vegetables, local spices and milk declined by 300-400 per cent in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions during the January-February period compared to that of December last year.
According to Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM), nearly 30-35 per cent of the crops, the northern and north-western regions (16 districts) produce, are exported to different districts specifically those in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) data showed that nearly 6.3 million tonnes of potato are grown on 0.32 million hectares of land in the 16 districts under the two divisions per year.
Officials in the three regional offices said 52 per cent harvest had already been completed from where more than 3.4 million tonnes of potato had been collected so far.
The official data also showed that winter vegetables were cultivated on 0.132 million hectares of land of which 70 per cent harvest had been completed, and farmers had so far collected 2.45 million tonnes of crops.  
Nearly 78,000 hectares of land in the 16 districts, including 38,000 hectares in Pabna, had been brought under onion farming. Harvest of storable onion started last week and per hectare yield was estimated at more than 18 tonnes, DAE officials said.   
The January-April period is very crucial for farmers as it is peak harvesting and trading seasons and also cultivation time for major cereal Boro.
The indefinite blockade almost paralysed the country's economic activities and farmers were the worst victims, Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mostofa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu told our correspondent.
The farmers in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions were affected seriously due to disruption in transport of their produce compared to that of other divisions, he said.
Mr. Titu said nearly 2.2 million tonnes of potato was lying idle in the two divisions which could have been exported to Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Khulna divisions.
"It is a peak season for potato growers and traders. But prices of different varieties of potato dropped to Tk 2-6 per kg as traders do not want to buy the produce for supply disruption."
He added: "During normal days, some 2500-3000 goods-laden trucks leave the districts under Rangpur division every day. Now only 280-300 trucks depart from these districts every day." Md Moniruzzaman Moni, president of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said minimum 4,000 trucks used to leave eight districts under the division which dropped to 400-500 now.
Potato, onion and tomato growers, milk producers and small traders counted huge losses in last 45 days due to the blockade, he said, adding that the economy of the region would collapse if the political turmoil continues.
Mr. Moni claimed that about 22,000 tonnes of vegetables were being wasted per day in the division due to the blockade. Small milk producers got a shock as milk price came down to Tk 15-20 per litre from Tk 45-50 during pre-blockade period, he added.
Mahbubur Rahman, a farmer who lives at Khokshabari in Nilphamari, told the FE that he harvested granola variety of potato on four bighas of land and got 75 sacks (per sack 85 kgs).
The price of potato was only Tk 180-220 per sack at nearby wholesale markets on Monday, but it was Tk 700-750 at the beginning of January last, he said, adding that production cost for per kg was Tk 5.5-6.0 this year.
Md Anisur Rahman, another farmer who lives in Shantashpur village under Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur, told our correspondent that radish and sweet potato were selling at Tk 2-2.5 and Tk 5-6 per kg respectively.
"I've incurred Tk 30,000 losses this season after failing to cash even one-third of my investment due to political unrest," he said.
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