Labourer shortage hits paddy harvest in Pabna
Monday, 10 May 2010
Our Correspondent
PABNA, May 9: Shortage of farm labourers during the on-going boro paddy harvesting period has kept the cultivators in Pabna in grave concern forcing them to count increased production cost.
The crisis has kept the day labourers in high demand pushing up their wage significantly in the district.
Local people and cultivators said many labourers were more interested in working in other districts as they got higher wage there.
The farmers fear that the increase in wage of labourers would push up their production cost.
On a spot visit to Maligasa, Maloncho, Sararabaria, Akdanta and Dapunia unions of the Sadar Upazila; this correspondent found that harvesting of BR-28 variety was going on in full swing and the farmers were busy reaping and threshing paddy.
Last year, Tk 3,500 to Tk 4,000 was spent as labour wage for reaping and threshing paddy of one acre land, the farmers said.
But this year it stands at Tk 5,500 to Tk 6,000, they added. Despite conceding the high labour cost, the farmers are still facing severe shortage of day labourers.
The farmers also said that crisis of day labourers was delaying harvesting of paddy.
The BR-29 variety has not yet been reaped. So, the farmers are in fear of nor'wester that might damage the crop.
Farmers Johurul Islam (45) and Swapan Chakraborty (32) of village Narayanpur and Monoharpur under Maligasa union in Sadar Upazila, said they paid Tk 250 to a labourer daily for paddy harvesting which was higher wage than last year.
PABNA, May 9: Shortage of farm labourers during the on-going boro paddy harvesting period has kept the cultivators in Pabna in grave concern forcing them to count increased production cost.
The crisis has kept the day labourers in high demand pushing up their wage significantly in the district.
Local people and cultivators said many labourers were more interested in working in other districts as they got higher wage there.
The farmers fear that the increase in wage of labourers would push up their production cost.
On a spot visit to Maligasa, Maloncho, Sararabaria, Akdanta and Dapunia unions of the Sadar Upazila; this correspondent found that harvesting of BR-28 variety was going on in full swing and the farmers were busy reaping and threshing paddy.
Last year, Tk 3,500 to Tk 4,000 was spent as labour wage for reaping and threshing paddy of one acre land, the farmers said.
But this year it stands at Tk 5,500 to Tk 6,000, they added. Despite conceding the high labour cost, the farmers are still facing severe shortage of day labourers.
The farmers also said that crisis of day labourers was delaying harvesting of paddy.
The BR-29 variety has not yet been reaped. So, the farmers are in fear of nor'wester that might damage the crop.
Farmers Johurul Islam (45) and Swapan Chakraborty (32) of village Narayanpur and Monoharpur under Maligasa union in Sadar Upazila, said they paid Tk 250 to a labourer daily for paddy harvesting which was higher wage than last year.