With around 25 percent fall in prices of paddy in the local markets during the recent days, marginal farmers in Barisal district are facing huge losses.

During a visit to different wholesale markets, this correspondent saw that a maund of paddy is selling at Tk 500-550 while the price was Tk 600-700 only a week ago.

Manik Howlader, a marginal fanner of Nalsheri under Banaripara upazila of Barisal, said he sold paddy after Aman harvesting at Tk 620-700 per maund, which has now reduced toTk 525-560.

"I sold different types of Aman paddy at Tk 600-650 per maund last month, but it has now come down to Tk 485-5 5 0," Abdul Malek of Bharakhata of uzirpur upazila in the same district said.

Several farmers said they are facing hardship to sell paddy at

Tk 500-550 per maund as production cost of Aman paddy wasTk 620-700 per maund due to high prices ofsceds, fertilisers and pesticides in the Aman cultivation season.

Now mahajans (money lenders) and farias (middlemen) in different markets are fiurchasingAmanpaddyat the owest price for profit making later, adding to the frustration among the farmers about Boro paddy cultivation.

"Aman paddy was cultivated on 1.37 lakh hectares oi land in Barisal district this year. With average 4.5 tonne yield per hectare, the district saw 3.96 lakh tonne production," said Manirul Islam, district officer of the Barisal Agriculture Extension Department.

"Bumper production of paddy caused the fall of price and we have requested the government to purchase paddy from farmers by giving them at least the production cost," he added.