Speakers at a discussion Saturday demanded that the government immediately impose a ban on rice import from India and provide them with cash subsidy to save them from the price debacle in the current Boro season.
They also demanded that the government under its procurement drive buy wheat and paddy directly from them to minimise their losses.
The speakers placed the demands at the discussion titled "Multi-stakeholder Consultation on Voluntary Guidance on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests."
Kendrio Krishok Maitry (KKM) in association with ActionAid and Asian Farmers' Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) organised the discussion at the National Press Club (NPC) in the city.
Before the discussion, a rally was held in front of the press club. AFA Secretary General Ma. Estrella Penunia led the rally.
A large number of farmers from different parts of the country participated in the rally, demanding fair price for their crop in the current Boro harvesting season.
Subal Sarker, general secretary of Bangladesh Bhumiheen Samity, at the discussion said paddy prices fell to Tk 450-Tk 500 per maund against the production cost of Tk 720-Tk 750.
Marginal and landless farmers as well as farm labourers are now in dire straits due to fall in paddy prices. "We have come to know that the government is thinking to restrict rice import for last two months, but the season is going to end," he said.
Mr Subal said, "We want an immediate ban on rice import for the sake of the farmers."
Anwar Hossain Babu, secretary of Jatiya Krishak Jote, said since the beginning of Boro cultivation, farmers and experts were demanding imposition of duty on rice import, but the government paid no heed to the demand.
"The government could prevent the disaster if duty was slapped in February last," he said and demanded cash subsidy for the farmers to minimise their losses.
Lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha, also chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the fisheries and livestock ministry said: "Although it's late, the government is now thinking to withdraw zero duty on rice import."
He suggested setting up an 'agriculture court' like that of labour court to protect the interests of farmers.
MM Akash, an economics professor at Dhaka University, said the country is passing through an economic transition which he defined as 'Lewis Turning Point' (LTP).
Surplus rural labour has been declining, he said, adding that the downward trend in surplus labour in rural areas leads to a rise in agricultural and industrial real wages. "Upon reaching the LTP, a country usually experiences decline in food production."
Mr Akash said farm labour wage has increased, but farmers are not getting fair prices which might discourage them for producing food crop in the coming years.
However, farmers Murshida Begum, Marjina Khatun, Nur Taj and Surjo Begum said women farm labourers were getting lower wages compared to that of men.
They demanded equal rights over Khas land and government water bodies for women.
Farab Jahan of KKM who presented a paper on Voluntary Guidance on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests said Bangladesh has signed the guideline initiated by the FAO.
She said it was endorsed in the context of national food security to secure tenure rights and equitable access to land, fisheries and forests as means of eradicating hunger and poverty, supporting sustainable development and protecting the environment.
Lawmaker and senior vice president of Bangladesh Krishok League Chhabi Biswas, KKM president Monir Ahmed, secretary Alauddin Shikder and Krishok Federation secretary Badrul Ahsan, among others, spoke on the occasion while ActionAid Country Director Farah Kabir coordinated the discussion.
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com
Ban on rice import from India sought
FE Report | Published: May 10, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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