Staff Reporter:
Farmers in Sunamganj’s haor areas are struggling to get fair prices for their Boro paddy, with many alleging that the current market rates are failing to cover production costs. Around four lakh farmers in the district depend on single-crop Boro cultivation for their livelihoods. After harvesting in Baishakh, many farmers dry and store their paddy, hoping to sell it later at a better price or when they need money to repay loans.
However, farmers said this year’s prolonged storage has brought little benefit as paddy prices have fallen sharply. Those who cultivate leased land are facing greater difficulties as they have to bear both production and land-rental costs.
Farmers said rainwater submerged many paddy fields in Baishakh despite the absence of major flooding. As a result, some crops could not be harvested properly, while the quality and colour of the harvested paddy were also affected.
Traders have cited the lower quality of the paddy to offer reduced prices, according to farmers and local market sources.
Sadeq Ali, a farmer from Bir Nagar village in Tahirpur, said he cultivated 30 kiars of land and harvested around 400 maunds of paddy. “I did not get a fair price for my paddy. Many farmers in the haor areas are facing the same problem despite their hard work,” he said.
He said the cost of cultivating one kiar of land is around Tk6,000–7,000, while farmers can produce about 10 maunds of paddy from the same area. Selling paddy at around Tk700 per maund does not cover the production cost, he added.
Zaman Mia, a farmer from Tanguar Haor, said he had dried and stored his paddy after harvesting in Baishakh in the hope of getting a better price later. “Now wholesalers are offering only Tk500–600 per maund. If the situation continues, I will not cultivate Boro paddy next season,” he said.
Gopesh Das, a major paddy trader in Madhyanagar, said paddy prices had declined in Ashuganj and other major markets. He said a perception that Sunamganj paddy had suffered quality losses this year was also affecting local prices.
Sharecroppers Rafiq Mia and others said they were considering abandoning Boro cultivation if prices remained below production costs. Jafar Mia, a paddy wholesaler in Bishwambharpur, said traders in Sylhet were offering no more than Tk950 per maund even for selected quality paddy. “There is hardly any profit after covering transportation and other expenses. That is why I am not buying paddy this time,” he said.
Sunamganj District Food Officer Ferdous Jahan said procurement initially faced delays due to inadequate storage capacity. “Paddy procurement was scheduled to continue until 31 August, but it was stopped on 9 August after the national procurement target was achieved,” she said.
Farmers have urged the government to extend the procurement period and increase procurement targets so that they can sell their paddy at fair prices. They also called for establishing union-level government procurement centres during Baishakh to purchase paddy directly from farmers and reduce production and marketing costs, alongside increased subsidies on agricultural inputs.
Sunamganj District Agricultural Marketing Officer Ahmed Asifur Rob said millers had informed him that the price of rice had fallen partly because of quality and colour problems in Sunamganj’s paddy this year. “We will discuss the matter with the district food officer and take initiatives to support the farmers,” he said
