Aman paddy
Bagerhat farmers reluctant to sell Aman paddy to govt—here’s why
Despite a good yield of Aman paddy in Bagerhat’s saline-prone lands this season, government warehouses remain empty as farmers prefer private sales due to higher market prices, officials said.
They said the government had set the procurement price at Tk 1,320 per maund, whereas the market price ranged between Tk 1,400 and Tk 1,420 per maund. This Tk 100 disparity per maund has deterred farmers from selling their crops to government warehouses.
Besides, bureaucratic complexities and syndicates have further discouraged them from participating in the government procurement process. Despite this, the Food Department has managed to collect nearly 92% of its targeted rice procurement.
Farmers argue that the government should facilitate easier collection by purchasing paddy directly from their homes. They also insist that the government procurement price should be higher than the market rate to encourage participation.
According to the Food Department, with the deadline of 28 February fast approaching, it is highly unlikely that any Aman paddy will be collected in Bagerhat. The collection period, which began on 17 November 2024, has set a target of 3,902 tonnes of paddy from nine upazilas of Bagerhat.
As of last Tuesday, not a single grain has reached the government warehouses.
The district’s Food Department had designated the following procurement targets: Bagerhat Sadar (409 tonnes), Morrelganj (1,139 tonnes), Rampal (505 tonnes), Sharankhola (478 tonnes), Mongla (160 tonnes), Fakirhat (284 tonnes), Mollahat (207 tonnes), Kachua (337 tonnes) and Chitalmari (383 tonnes).
Besides, the target for parboiled rice procurement from these upazilas was set at 3,304 tonnes, of which nearly 92% has been achieved.
Agri Mechanisation: ‘Samaloy’ method boosting paddy production in Meherpur
Farmers cite their past experiences of difficulties in selling to government warehouses as another reason for their reluctance. Saifur Rahman Nathu, a farmer from Fatehpur village in Bemarta Union, has around 20 bighas of farmland producing both Aman and Boro paddy.
Last season, he attempted to sell his paddy to the government but failed due to excessive paperwork and restrictions. This season, he did not even consider trying.
Similarly, Tarun Kumar Pal, a farmer from the same village, cultivated Aman paddy on four bighas of land, yielding around 120 maunds.
He noted that the government warehouses impose strict quality checks, rejecting paddy with higher moisture content or even a slight presence of husks.
The cumbersome process of selling, coupled with the lower procurement price, led him to sell directly in the open market.
Even some farmers were unaware of the government procurement programme. Sheikh Muhammad Mizan from Baruipara village in Bagerhat Sadar Upazila said that after harvesting, traders came to his home and purchased his paddy on the spot. He had no information about government purchase schemes.
Acting District Food Controller Shakil Ahmed said that farmers need an agricultural card or a valid ID to sell paddy at government warehouses.
They also must obtain approval from the agricultural department before selling between 120 kg and 3,000 kg of paddy. The government has set a moisture content limit of 14%, and payments are directly transferred to the farmers’ bank accounts, he said.
Shakil Ahmed said that the failure to procure even a single grain of Aman paddy was due to market prices being higher than the government rate.
He also pointed out that the open-market economy allowed traders from the northern regions to buy up most of the paddy, reducing the availability for local procurement.
Bumper Aman paddy yield brings joy to farmers in Chapainawabganj
Bagerhat’s Deputy Director of the Agricultural Extension Department, Shankar Kumar Majumdar, said that this season saw Aman paddy cultivation over 73,234 hectares of land, yielding around 277,800 tonnes of paddy.
The district has a total of 244,328 farming families, of whom 147,000 cultivate Aman paddy.
He advised that government procurement should be made easier and more accessible for farmers.
As the deadline for government procurement approaches, it remains uncertain whether any paddy will be collected, according to the officials.
They said the persistent price disparity and bureaucratic hurdles continue to push farmers away from selling to government warehouses, reflecting a broader challenge in the agricultural procurement system.
2 months ago
Govt to procure 51,973 MT paddy from Khulna amid bumper harvest
The southwestern district of Khulna is celebrating a bumper harvest of Aman paddy this year, sparking joy and optimism among local farmers.
Growers and others are preparing for harvesting the paddy and sharpening their sickles as they hope for a record-breaking production this time.
In the nine upazilas of Khulna, farmers are cleaning their fields and homes in preparation for the harvest which is expected to begin within the next one to two weeks.
Though this year the country experienced a heavy rainfall, which brought both challenges and blessings for the farmers, the golden fields of paddy bring smiles to the farmers.
With the rising costs of fertilizers, seeds, pesticides and labour, the growers are hopeful for a good harvest, provided the weather remains favorable.
The Directorate General of Food has announced that the government will procure 51,973 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy from 10 districts under Khulna division.
Besides, 74,335 MT of boiled rice and 5,925 MT of parboiled rice will also be collected.
Agriculture officials said that the coastal Koyra and Dakop upazials have witnessed bumper yields of Aman paddy this year.
According to the Koyra Upazila Agricultural Office, 16,323 hectares of land were brought under the Aman cultivation, while Dakop adhered to 19,360 hectares.
Read: Bumper Aman paddy yield brings joy to farmers in Chapainawabganj
Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, regional food controller for Khulna, said that this year’s production may exceed the target set earlier.
Shashadhar Sana, a farmer from Angti Hara Paschim Beel, said he planted Aman paddy on one bigha of land and expected to harvest about 30 maunds per bigha.
He said his family was preparing to make pithas from the newly harvested rice.
Mizanur Rahman Babu from Sataliya Purbo Beel shared the same sentiment that he planted paddy on 22 bighas of land and now expect to gain 24-25 monds per bigha.
Master Abdul Khalek, a farmer from Koyra Sadar union, praised the efforts of the local agricultural officers, saying that they were very dedicated and always visited fields.
Read more: Farmers busy in harvesting paddy in Naogaon
Koyra Upazila Agricultural Officer Md Abdullah Al Mamun said despite some challenges the farmers faced the yield would surpass expectations.
5 months ago
Rice prices to come down with new Aman rice in market, hopes Food Adviser
Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar has said the rice prices may decline gradually with the new Aman rice coming to the market.
“The harvesting of Aman paddy has already started in the country’s northern region. There has been a bumper yielding of Aman this year…. Our Aman collection campaign will start from next Sunday,” said the adviser on Thursday.
Rice to be imported to tackle Aman crop losses: Food Adviser
He was briefing reporters after a meeting at the Directorate General of Food in the city. Top officials of the food directorate including its regional directors were present in the meeting.
The government will start the Aman collection drive from next Sunday with a target to collect 10 lakh metric tons (MT) of Aman rice and paddy, increasing the prices by Tk 3 per kg this year.
The food adviser said more rice are in the import pipeline as LCs have already been opened to import 1.5 lakh MT rice.
Govt to procure 3.5 lakh MT Aman paddy at Tk 33 per kg
He said the rice prices have remained stable for a week as the prices don’t go high anymore.
The prices of rice and paddy were increased, considering the matter of ensuring fair prices for farmers as the production costs went high, said the adviser.
Food Director General Abdul Khaleque said the target was set to collect a total of 10 lakh metric tons of Aman rice and paddy –-5.5 lakh MT rice, 3.5 lakh MT paddy and one lakh MT atap rice—during this Aman season.
The price of rice per kg was increased to Tk 47 from Tk 44, while that of paddy to Tk 33 from Tk 30 and Atap rice to Tk 46 from Tk 42, he said.
Replying to a question, the food adviser said though Bangladesh is nearer to self-sufficient in rice production and the country doesn’t need to import rice sometimes and heavy tariffs were imposed on rice imports at that time.
This year there are zero tariffs and the Agricultural Ministry now predicted that there would be a deficit of 6-7 lakh MT of rice this year, he said.
Food Secretary Masudul Hasan said 134 businessmen have so far been permitted to import 10.52 lakh MT rice.
5 months ago
Govt wants to stand by farmers: Food Minister
Terming farmers as the heart of the country, Bangladesh's Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar on Tuesday (May 30, 2023) said that the aim of the government is to stand by the farmers.
"Whether they cultivate mango or paddy, the interest of the farmers must be protected,” the minister said at the inauguration ceremony of mango harvesting and marketing in 2023 season in Sapahar's Godown Para area on Tuesday.
The Food Minister said under the leadership of the Prime Minister, there has been a bumper yield of Boro, Aman paddy and mangoes as well and farmers are getting a fair price for paddy. "I hope they will also get a fair price for mangoes,” he added.
Sadhan Chandra said now the supply of local fruits is quite good. “Dollars will be saved if fruits are not imported from abroad and the nutritional value of local fruits is also high.”
Read more: Bumper yield of Boro paddy satisfies Madaripur farmers
“There is an opportunity to export various fruits and we are exporting mangoes. As a result, mango farmers are benefiting. But the problem is that foreigners want to know whether the mangoes are safe or not. We cannot show them certificate.”
He hoped that in future it will be possible to export more mangoes with certificate from the safe food directorate.
Chaired by Sharmin Jahan, assistant commissioner (land) of Sapahar, Upazila Parishad Chairman Md. Shahjahan Hossain, Upazila Awami League President Md. Shamsul Alam Shah Chowdhury and agricultural worker Shapla Khatun were present atthe programme.
Later, the minister inaugurated the Fish Chattar in Jabai Beel and the Joy Bangla Chattar on the Upazila Parishad premises.
Read more: Salinity-tolerant rice cultivation brings delight to Barguna farmers
1 year ago
Govt to provide Tk 33.20 crore incentive to increase Aman production
In an effort to increase the production of Aman paddy, the government has taken a decision to provide Tk 33.20 crore incentive to 4.90 lakh small and marginal farmers across the country, said the Agriculture Ministry.
Under the scheme, a farmer will get five kgs of seeds of high yielding (Ufshi) variety of T-Aman paddy, 10 kgs of DAP and MOP fertilizers free of cost, said a handout of the ministry.
The incentive is being given from the regular budget and rehabilitation assistance and seeds sector of the Agriculture Ministry.
Already an order in this connection has been issued and the distribution of incentives will start soon in the field level.
1 year ago
Govt to procure 3 lakh mts Aman paddy at Tk 28 per kg: Food Minister
The government has set a target to procure three lakh metric tonnes (mts) of Aman paddy and five lakh mts of boiled rice in the upcoming season.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder revealed the matter to reporters after a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee at the Secretariat.
Read: Despite repeated warnings, Food Minister rules out any possibility of food crisis in Bangladesh
The procurement price of Aman paddy has been fixed at Tk 28 per kg and boiled rice at Tk 42 per kg, he added.
2 years ago
Drought dashes dreams of Khulna farmers
Farmers in the coastal district of Khulna are a worried lot because of something they had no control over -- drought.
With aridity delaying the Aman paddy cultivation process by nearly one-and-a-half months, the 80,000-plus farmers in the district fear that they may not be able to even recover the production cost this year.
According to the department of agricultural extension (DoAE), only 16,055 hectares of land have so far been cultivated with Aman paddy -- barely one-fifth of the targeted 93,070 hectares.
According to the weather department, almost four to five times less rainfall was recorded this year in Khulna as compared to last year.
Read: Jute growers paying for drought that resulted in discoloured fibre
In 2021, a total of 388.89 mm of rainfall was recorded in June, 506 mm in July and 213 mm in August.
But this year, 94.36 mm of rainfall was recorded in June, 91.27 mm in July, and 161.19 mm till August 23.
In the current season, 3,630 hectares of land in the district have been cultivated with Aush paddy, 1,316 hectares with jute, 35 hectares with tomato, 273 hectares with watermelon, 295 hectares with beans, and 8,265 hectares with winter vegetables.
Farmers say Aman paddy needs plenty of water. "I only know how I am managing water to irrigate my 10 bighas of land to keep the planted beans alive,” said Abu Hanif Morol, a farmer from Kharnia village of Dumuria upazila.
Farmers of Bamandia, Panchpota, Gonali, Bhadradia and Tipna villages are irrigating their Aman fields with water from the Bhadra river -- but channelising the river water is increasing their production costs.
Md Hafizur Rahman, deputy director of Khulna DoAE, said Aman is being cultivated with water from the river in Fultola, Terokhada, Rupsha, Batiaghata, Dumuria, Dighalia and Dakop upazilas.
"Meanwhile, in Paikgacha and Koira upazilas, farmers were unable to use the river water as it is still too saline," he said.
Read: Drought-like situation frustrates Aman growers in Naogaon
“Already 100% seedbeds for Aman have been prepared but the production will still be less than projected due to a drought-like situation, " said the Khulna DoAE official.
Lack of rainfall has slowed down the entire Aman cultivation process, said Paikgacha upazila agriculture officer, Jahangir Alam."Farmers have been advised to get in touch with the Rural Electrification Board."
Mizanur Rahman, deputy assistant agriculture officer of Dakop upazila, said apart from the delay in Aman cultivation, production of watermelons and vegetables has also been hit in Pankhali union.
2 years ago
Sharankhola paddy farmers struggling with rise in salinity post-Amphan
The farmers of Sharankhola upazila of Bagerhat district have become frustrated with the increased salinity affecting their crop lands since Cyclone Amphan ripped through the country on May 20, leaving a vast tract of land unfit for cultivation.
4 years ago
Measures taken to reduce Tk 349cr damage caused by flood: Minister
Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque on Monday said that the government took different initiatives to reduce the Tk 349 crore damage primarily caused by the flood.
4 years ago
High yielding crops cultivation to get priority: Minister
Agriculture Minister Dr. Abdur Razzaque said on Wednesday cultivation of high yielding varieties of crops will be given priority to increase food production, aiming to tackle the possible food crisis due to Covid-19 pandemic.
4 years ago