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Farmers upset as paddy sells below production cost

Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat
Farmers are upset as they are selling paddy at prices below the production cost at local markets.
One maund of paddy (one maund equal 40 kg) is being sold at Tk 650-70 in five upazilas of the district.
These farmers had sold paddy at Tk 750 to Tk 780 a maund in the local markets only three weeks back.
They are now compelled to sell paddy at low rates as they have no alternative way to arrange money to cultivate boro paddy and other crops in the ongoing season.
Farmer Azizul Islam, 48, of Saptana village in Sadar upazila who came to Nababerhat for selling five maunds of paddy said he had to sell paddy at low price as he needs money to grow boro paddy and vegetables.
"I have sold five maunds of paddy for Tk 3250 at the rate ofTk 650 a maund. I am
really upset as the price is below my production cost," he said.
Like him, farmers Ashraf Ali, 52, of Nhatibari village, Nur Islam, 48, of Kulaghat village and Dhirendra Nath Barmon, 55, of Harati village in Sadar upazila were upset over the present price of paddy.
"One maund of paddy is sold between Tk 650- 670 in the local markets, whereas the production cost of each maund was between Tk 700 and 750," said Ashraf Ali.
“I came to Furakuti Haat for selling 10 maunds of paddy. I thought I would get Tk 7,800 to 8,000 but I sold the paddy for only Tk 6,500 as the market price is fell sharply in the last three weeks,” said Rajob Ali Sarker, 62, a farmer of Karnapur village.
Visiting different markets, this correspondent found farmers waiting for hours with their productions for customers.
A few were seen purchasing paddy despite low prices.
Buyer Pappu Mia of Roypara area in Lalmonirhat town said, "I bought one maund of paddy at Tk 650.
Mahir Ali, a big merchant of Haribhangaa area in the town said that they were not interested to purchase paddy from the markets as they import rice from India at reasonable rate.
"We supply imported Indian rice to the local markets," he said.
Deputy Director (DD) of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Lalmonirhat Safayet Hossain said, growers will lose interest in farming paddy if they are deprived of fair prices.
He stressed an appropriate market policy for farmers’ agri produces so that essential and seasonal crops are cultivated properly, he said.