Bumper Boro Yield Fails to Relieve Sherpur Farmers Amid Low Market Prices

While the fields are filled with golden crops, the joy of a successful harvest has been dampened by the risk of sudden storms and rain submerging low-lying lands. The primary crisis, however, is economic; farmers report that current market prices for paddy are significantly lower than the daily wages of laborers, leading to substantial financial losses. Currently, a maund (approx. 37 kg) of paddy is being sold in Jhenaigati markets for only 750 to 900 BDT, whereas the daily wage for a single agricultural laborer has surged to 1,000 to 1,100 BDT.

Farmers from villages like Kalinagar and Mazhlikanda expressed deep frustration, noting that after covering the skyrocketing costs of plowing, irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides, the revenue from one maund of paddy cannot even cover a single worker's daily wage. According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, Boro was cultivated on approximately 14,600 hectares of land this season with excellent yields. Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Farhad Hossain acknowledged the farmers' concerns regarding market rates and advised them to harvest as soon as 80 percent of the crop matures to avoid damage from potential hailstorms. While the agriculture department hopes the crisis will ease once the government begins its procurement drive at the announced rate of 1,440 BDT per maund, local farmers are demanding the immediate commencement of this program to save them from total financial ruin.