A diesel shortage coupled with the recent hike in fuel prices has sharply increased the cost of harvesting Boro paddy in the haor regions of northeastern Bangladesh, leaving farmers struggling to bring in their crops on time and facing mounting financial losses.
Although the harvesting season has already begun across Sylhet division, many farmers say they are unable to cut their paddy in time due to a lack of fuel and soaring machine rental costs, raising fears of crop damage from untimely rain or early flooding.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), a total of 2,23,511 hectares of land across 137 small and large haors in 12 upazilas of Sunamganj district were brought under Boro cultivation this year, with a production target of 14 lakh metric tons.
With farmers increasingly dependent on combine harvesters to quickly harvest crops in the flood-prone haor areas, rental charges for the machines have risen steeply.
Farmers said where harvesting one acre of land cost Tk 4,500 to Tk 5,000 last year, it has now increased to Tk 7,500-Tk 12,000, with some areas seeing even higher rates.
According to the DAE, a total of 1,473 combine harvesters are currently active across the four districts of Sylhet division, but authorities say the number remains insufficient compared to the demand.
Selim Reza Chowdhury, a farmer of Rajapur union in Dharmapasha upazila of the district, said though the yield is good this year, farmers are facing the greatest difficulty during harvesting.
“Even after offering up to Tk 12,000 per acre, we often cannot get a harvester. Costs are increasing every day and there is always the fear of rain or early flooding damaging the crops,” he said.
Besides, rice prices have not increased proportionately despite rising input costs, including fertiliser, seeds, irrigation and harvesting, pushing many farmers towards financial losses and debt.
Abdul Karim, another farmer said they are being forced to wait for available machines, with many farmers booking harvesters in groups due to the shortage.
Harvester owner Moinul Islam from Balijuri area of Tahirpur upazila said the situation is equally challenging for operators.
“Machines cannot run without diesel, but we are not getting sufficient fuel from dealers even after obtaining permits from agriculture offices. As a result, we are buying diesel from the open market at higher prices,” he said, adding that maintenance costs have also increased.
Jahangir Alam, a harvester operator, said it has become difficult to meet demand despite working day and night due to fuel shortages.
Deputy Director of the Sunamganj DAE Mohammad Omar Faruk said there is no actual fuel shortage in the district, but distribution complexities under a controlled system have created some disruptions.
Fuel is being supplied based on certification and administrative coordination is ongoing to stabilise the situation, he added.