The fields across Thakurgaon are turning golden as farmers harvest early varieties of Aman rice, but the bumper yield has failed to bring them the expected relief.
Despite a good harvest this season, growers are struggling to get fair prices for their paddy, raising fears that higher production will not translate into higher profits.
With harvesting and threshing activities gaining momentum across the district, many farmers are finding that the market price barely covers their production costs, which have increased due to higher prices of fuel, pesticides and agricultural labour.
A visit to different parts of the district found farmers busy harvesting, carrying paddy home and threshing the crop.
While the fields are witnessing a productive season, the mood among growers remains subdued over falling market prices.
Jamal Uddin, a farmer from Bhaulahat area of Sadar upazila, said he cultivated early Aman on six bighas of land and had initially been delighted with the yield.
“I am now harvesting the crop and bringing it home. The yield is very good, which made me happy at first. But looking at the market price, I am no longer optimistic. After meeting the production costs, there will hardly be any profit,” he said.
Another farmer, Mohsin, said the price of a sack containing two maunds of paddy had fallen from Tk 2,200–2,250 at the beginning of the season to around Tk 2,100.
He said paddy was currently selling for around Tk 1,050–1,100 per maund, while farmers would need Tk 1,200–1,300 per maund to get a reasonable return.
“If the price were Tk 1,200–1,300 per maund, we could sell a two-maund sack for Tk 2,400–2,600. Now the price of paddy is almost equal to the production cost. The only thing left for us to earn something from is the straw,” he said.
Production rises, returns remain uncertain
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Aman cultivation in Thakurgaon exceeded the season’s target.
The district had set a cultivation target of 137,270 hectares, but farmers cultivated 137,300 hectares, exceeding the target by 30 hectares.
Harvesting of early varieties has already begun in different parts of the district, with paddy from around 15,000 hectares harvested so far.
The high-yielding varieties grown in the district include BRRI Dhan-75, BRRI Dhan-90, BRRI Dhan-17 and BRRI Dhan-7. Farmers have also started harvesting hybrid varieties, including Dhanigold.
However, the prospect of a bumper harvest has been overshadowed by concerns over weak farmgate prices and the rising cost of cultivation.
Concerns have also been raised over the influence of millers and traders in the local paddy market.
The absence of government procurement at the beginning of the harvesting season has further limited farmers’ bargaining power, leaving many dependent on local traders.
Government procurement yet to begin
DAE Deputy Director Majedul Islam, however, described early Aman harvesting as a positive development for farmers, particularly during the lean period in the northern region.
“Early harvesting is a blessing for farmers. Kartik is traditionally considered a difficult period for people in this region, as there used to be little agricultural activity at this time. But with the introduction of different early-maturing varieties, farmers can now bring Aman rice home ahead of the usual season,” he said.
He acknowledged that farmers were getting somewhat lower prices but said they could also earn from selling paddy straw, which fetches a relatively good price during this period due to demand for cattle feed.
He said the government had not yet started its Aman procurement drive and farmers would have to wait for it to begin.
District Assistant Agricultural Marketing Officer Sakhawat Hossain also acknowledged that farmers were not getting fair prices despite the arrival of early Aman paddy in the market.
“We are advising farmers not to sell their paddy immediately at low prices. They can store it at home for some time and sell it later after analysing the market to get a better price,” he said.
He added that the Department of Agricultural Marketing was regularly monitoring local markets to prevent unscrupulous traders or groups from purchasing paddy at low prices and hoarding it to manipulate the market.
