Providing cash subsidy for Boro farmers suggested

Experts and farmers' representatives have suggested providing cash subsidy for Boro farmers this season to keep production cost steady following the fresh hike in irrigation and fertilser prices.
The political unrest that prevailed in November-January period of the current fiscal year (FY) paralysed the country's transportation system which took its toll on Boro farmers as it was the peak season for cultivation.
"Prices of urea and other fertilisers, diesel, seed and pesticides witnessed a significant rise during the period for which production cost may go up by 25-30 per cent across the country," said Mosharraf Hossain Nannu, secretary of Jatiya Krishok Khetmajur Samity that works for farmers and day labourers.
He said irrigation cost for per bigha (33 decimal) of land was Tk 800-850 at Phulbari in Dinajpur last year, which has increased to Tk 1,250-1,400 this year.
"Farmers bought urea at Tk 24-26 per kg against the actual price of Tk 16. Cost for fertliser has increased by Tk 250 per bigha," he said.
"The farmers should be given cash subsidy this year, and the amount should be between Tk 1,000 and 1,500. Some 9.2 million farmers' cards can be used which are lying idle," he said.
However, the government provided farmers with cash subsidy through Agri-input Assistance Card in 2010 last when a marginal farmer was given Tk 800 and a big farmer Tk 1,000.
Economist Dr AK Enamul Hoque told the FE that farmers are switching to other professions every year which is alarming for the country's food production scenario.
"It is necessary for a country to have food security by keeping the farmers associated with farming and it would be possible only when agriculture will be profitable for them," he said.
"Peasants have a little idea about indirect subsidies which are given for fertiliser, diesel and electricity," he said.
"Farmers should be provided with cash subsidy so that they can realise that the government is really doing something for them. This kind of subsidies are available in the countries like Great Britain, USA, Canada, Thailand, the Philippines and so on," he said.
ASM Golam Hafiz Kennedy, a farm economist, told the FE: "Besides subsidy, it is necessary to ensure a profitable price."
"The government should procure at least 15-20 per cent of the total rice output and in that case, rice could be stored at farmers' homesteads. This is being done in Thailand now," he said.
"The government's storage capacity has been increased to 1.8 million tonnes, half of which is yet to be used properly," he said.
Kennedy also mentioned that rice prices are showing a higher trend, and a hike in Boro production cost may affect the rice market in coming months.  
However, the production of Boro is likely to increase this year if no disaster occurs. More than 80 per cent of the targeted acreage has been completed by February 9, Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said.
"Despite production cost hike, farmers are showing interest in Boro farming because they made some profit in Aman season," director general of DAE Md Abu Hanif Miah told the FE.
He said they have targeted to get 18.9 million tonnes of rice from 4.8 million hectares of land this Boro season.
However, farmers fear that the price of the Boro crop may fall in harvest season in April-June period like last year when price of per maund of paddy fell to Tk 520-650 against production cost of Tk 700-720.
Out of the three rice growing seasons, Boro contributes 55 per cent to the total rice yield.
The production of Boro was a record 18.759 million tonnes in last FY.
Total rice production in the country was 33.77 million tonnes in FY '13. This year the target is set at 34.65 million tonnes.