Wheat harvest begins, farmers upset for price fall

Wheat harvest has started in full swing in the country with the prospect of a record output. But farmers are frustrated, as price of the item has notably declined in local market, officials said.
Like last year, the officials are expecting a bumper production, following a rise in acreage by 6.1 per cent this financial year (FY), 2014-15, over that of the previous FY.
But price of the second staple is much lower in this harvesting season compared to that of last year.
However, an official at the Directorate General of Food (DGoF) told the FE that the price of wheat will increase considerably, when the government procurement will start from April.
He said the government procured 11.5 per cent of the total wheat output last year, which had a great impact on the market.
The country experienced an 11-year record output of 1.30 million tonnes of wheat last FY from 0.453 million hectares of land, according to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).  
In this fiscal, the target has been set at 13.5 million tonnes from 0.42 million hectares. But a total of 0.48 million hectares of land has come under wheat production, DAE director general A Z M Momtazul Karim said.
He said field reports are showing that per hectare yield has increased this FY comparing to that of its previous. The total production will surpass the target by a good volume.
DAE data showed that nearly 15 per cent of total harvest has been completed so far, and it will continue in the next month.
When the wheat production scenario is impressive, price of the item has made the farmers depressed.
Md Ali Reza Nayon, a farmer at Ranishonkoil in Thakurgaon, said wheat price has declined to Tk 700-720 per maund (40 kg) this season, which was Tk 800-850 per maund last year. Many farmers in the area, who harvested later, even got Tk 890-900 per maund.
He said paikers (local middlemen) are offering very low price for their produce, blaming the ongoing political turmoil.
Most of the farmers are not in a condition to store the crop, as they need money for jute and summer vegetable cultivation, he added.
According to the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM), farmers got Tk 890-950 for per maund of wheat last year. DGoF bought 0.15 million tonnes of wheat at Tk 1,080 per maund last season.
The government has targeted to buy 0.15 million tonnes at Tk 1,120 per maund this year (Tk 28 per kg).
Subal Sarker, secretary of Bhumiheen Samity — an organisation for marginal farmers, said the government planned to develop a system to purchase crops from the farmers directly.
“We want execution of the plan, which could benefit the farmers most.”
He said the government can also follow the Thailand model, introduced during the regime of Yingluck Shinawatra’s government.
“In the period, Thai government directly purchased rice from the farmers, and stored it at their own home for few months,” he added.     
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