Fuel shortages and heavy rains have slowed Boro harvesting in Habiganj’s haor areas, while a sharp fall in paddy prices is worsening farmers’ distress.
Paddy is selling at around Tk700 per maund in local markets, less than half of the government-fixed rate, farmers said.
The government has set the procurement price at Tk36 per kg, equivalent to Tk1,440 per maund, but farmers said they are being forced to sell at even lower prices in the field.
Heavy rain and hailstorms have submerged vast tracts of Boro fields across the district this season.
Water has yet to recede in many areas, while in others it continues to rise, complicating harvesting.
An acute fuel shortage has disrupted mechanised harvesting.
In Baniachong upazila, the district’s main Boro-producing area, only 27 per cent of paddy had been harvested as of April 23, about 15 percentage points lower than the same period last year.
Baniachong-based trader Bismillah Store owner Suman Ahmed said they were buying paddy from small traders at Tk700 per maund, while farmers were selling at even lower prices.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) data show Boro cultivation covered 1,23,644 hectares across nine upazilas this season, falling short of the target by 204 hectares.
Of the total, 46,954 hectares are in haor areas, with 33,700 hectares in Baniachong alone.
Baniachong upazila Agriculture Office Sub-Assistant Plant Protection Officer Alok Kumar Chand said there are 106 combine harvesters in the area.
Around 10,000 litres of fuel are required daily, but only about 1,000 litres are being supplied, making it difficult to keep the machines operational, he said.
Standing water has also prevented harvesters from entering many fields. Farmers said they could not obtain fuel from filling stations despite having fuel cards, forcing them to buy at higher prices in the open market.
Kumri village farmer Shahid Chowdhury said he was struggling to harvest due to waterlogged fields and fuel shortages.
“I did not get a single drop of fuel from the pump,” he said.
Authorities have urged farmers in haor areas to harvest quickly amid fears of flooding, but a shortage of labour has compounded the crisis. Government data show around 80 per cent of haor paddy has been harvested using machines in recent years.
The ongoing fuel shortage and adverse weather have disrupted the process this season.
Department of Agricultural Rehabilitation data show Boro crops have been damaged in six upazilas.
Damage includes 248 hectares in Baniachong, 154 hectares in Ajmiriganj, 90 hectares in Habiganj Sadar, 25 hectares in Lakhai, 20 hectares in Nabiganj and 19 hectares in Chunarughat.
Farmers fear Boro output in the haor region could suffer major losses this season without urgent measures.
