Farmers count twofold losses

Farmers have incurred twofold losses within a short-span of time between boro, aus and aman crop seasons as the bumper boro production left them poorer due to low prices and the two other standing crops in 31 districts have now been damaged by the ongoing floods.

Agriculture economists, agronomists and agriculturists urged the government to protect the affected farmers by providing them with immediate subsidies in agricultural inputs and cash assistance.

They are of the opinion that this would provide the farmers across the flood affected areas of the country a chance for recovery with the next crops.

They suggested introducing crop insurance to support the affected farmers who incurred loss against their produced crops due to low prices as well as natural disaster.

Agriculture economist Jahangir Alam Khan told New Age that in the wake of great losses in two subsequent seasons and the government should immediately initiate two types of subsidies — special subsidy in inputs and cash incentives to support the affected farmers.

Jahangir Alam Khan, also former president of Bangladesh Agricultural Economists’ Association, urged the government to strictly control the syndicate of rice traders who were depriving farmers of their due prices and making consumers pay higher price.

In April-June, the boro growers harvested bumper boro rice, the largest cereal crop in terms of production, but they did not get fair price. They were forced to sell boro rice at throw-away prices.

Farmers were forced to sell 40 kgs of un-husked boro rice at Tk 500-600, which is much lower than the production cost.

Besides, the government procurement system failed to deliver as the farmers were not benefitted by the system, said farmers and agricultural experts, adding that the government procured husked rice from the millers.

In different districts, the boro growers took to the streets demanding higher prices for their produce. Being disappointed by low price, some of the farmers also burned their rice on the streets in frustration in some districts.

Since first week of July, the country has been experiencing devastating floods that have already submerged standing crops in 27 districts.

Affected farmer Shamsuddin Ahmed from Lalmonirhat district told New Age that the floods damaged his aus lands, aman seedbeds and vegetables.

Besides, he said that he had incurred heavy losses after growing boro rice since it sold at an surprisingly low price. 

Matiur Rahman, another farmer of Ghogadaha union in Kurigram, which is one of the worst-hit districts, said his aus paddy has been ruined by floods.

He hoped that the paddy he planted on five bighas during this aus season would offset the losses suffered for low price of boro harvested in May-June.

The flood has started to recede but he said nothing would be left as he was planning to harvest aus in three weeks’ time.

However, agriculture minister Mohammad Abdur Razzque told reporters that the government would provide incentives to the flood affected farmers for growing their next crops.

According to the latest report of the Department of Agricultural Extension, the standing crops including aus, T aman, broadcast aman, aman seedbed, vegetables, jute, sugarcane, banana and green chilli on 1,72,043 hectares were affected by floods at 31  districts.

The report showed that the floods completely damaged different standing crops on 80,568 hectares while crops on 91,474 hectares were partially damaged.

About 6,53,452 farmers have been affected due to the flood, said the report.

Abdullahil Baque, professor of Agronomy at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University said as floods damaged aus, aman seedbeds and vegetables there is no time for replanting aus, he said, adding that late plantation of aman could yield less production.

The short duration aman variety should be planted this year, he suggested,

Agriculture expert Abdul Hamid, also chairman of the Agrarian Research Foundation, told New Age that Bangladeshi farmers have suffered uncountable losses in boro season due to low price and also this aus season for flooding.

Aman seedbeds damaged by floods could not be recovered as the farmers would not have excess to seeds, he said.

The government should provide farmers with free seeds of aman and vegetables, he suggested.

Abdul Hamid, former director at Krishi Gobeshona Foundation, stressed the need for introducing crop insurance to support the farmers in Bangladesh.

He said that farmers in the United States could get huge subsidies for growing crops but in Bangladesh they could not enjoy such facilities.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net