Rice farmers in Bangladesh’s northern district of Naogaon are facing growing fears of losses during the peak boro harvesting season as paddy prices have fallen sharply within a week amid rising market supply.
Farmers say prices dropped by as much as Tk100 to Tk120 per maund at local markets, leaving many struggling to recover soaring cultivation costs and repay debts. Many accused trader syndicates of manipulating the market, while traders blamed poor grain quality caused by erratic weather and excess moisture.
Naogaon, one of the country’s leading food grain-producing districts, is now in the middle of the irri-boro harvest season. Farmers, many of whom borrowed heavily to cultivate their fields, are rushing to sell paddy at local markets before storing it at home in order to settle debts and manage household expenses.
At Chakgauri market in Mahadevpur upazila on Thursday, hundreds of farmers lined up from dawn with vans, battery-run vehicles and locally made transport carts loaded with paddy for sale.
The market, which starts operating shortly after sunrise and usually winds up before 9:00 am, saw unusually high arrivals compared with previous trading days. Farmers waited in long queues stretching from the local school field to nearly half a kilometre along the Naogaon-Rajshahi regional highway.
Traders and farmers said prices had risen gradually by as much as Tk150 per maund during the previous three weeks because market supply remained limited at the start of the season. But as more paddy reached the markets, prices started falling.
Katari rice paddy was selling at around Tk1,300 per maund, long-grain Jirashail at Tk1,220 to Tk1,230, short-grain Jirashail at Tk1,050 to Tk1,070 and Sufalata at Tk1,100 to Tk1,120, according to traders at the market.
A similar situation was seen on Friday at Swarastipur market in Mahadevpur, where heavy supply further pushed down prices.
Farmers said production costs rose sharply this year because of higher fertiliser, labour and other farming expenses, with cultivation costs reaching Tk18,000 to Tk20,000 per bigha.
They also said unfavourable weather damaged crops during the season, reducing yields to between 20 and 25 maunds per bigha depending on the variety.
Farmer Ripon Hossain from Chakboali village in Mahadevpur said he sold 12 maunds of short-grain Jirashail paddy at Tk1,150 per maund.
“Last week the price was at least Tk100 higher per maund. Production costs increased this year, but we are not getting fair prices. Farmers always end up being deprived,” he said.
Farmers Hafizul Islam Hasu and Subhas Chandra said stormy weather and seasonal rain badly affected crops.
“At the beginning of the season, Kalbaishakhi storms flattened paddy fields. Yields dropped by three to four maunds per bigha. Labour costs for harvesting also increased by around Tk2,000 per bigha,” they said.
“The colour of the paddy deteriorated, which reduced prices in the market. We are being forced to sell at lower prices to clear shop debts and manage family expenses. Traders have formed syndicates to push down prices.”
The government has been procuring coarse paddy at Tk36 per kilogram, or Tk1,440 per maund, through the food department since November 12. But many farmers said they were reluctant to sell to government procurement centres because of procedural complications and preferred immediate cash sales in open markets.
Trader Nazrul Islam said excessive rain and waterlogging damaged the quality of much of the harvested paddy.
“The paddy fell to the ground and remained soaked in rainwater, causing some grains to sprout. In many fields, paddy remained covered in mud and water. That reduced the quality and affected rice production,” he said.
“Good-quality Katari paddy is still being bought at Tk1,350 per maund. Better-quality paddy always gets higher prices, but many farmers do not understand that and are expressing frustration over falling prices.”
Naogaon Rice Mill Owners Group General Secretary Farhad Hossain Chakdar said prices were higher earlier because supply remained limited at the beginning of the season.
“Now the supply in the markets has increased. There are also problems with grain colour and moisture levels, which have pushed prices down slightly. However, prices are likely to rise later,” he said.
According to the district agriculture office, boro cultivation covered around 1,93,000 hectares of land in Naogaon this year. Agricultural officials expect production to exceed 11,50,000 tonnes.
