Barguna has had bumper Aus paddy harvests for several years, but this year Aus was planted on 13,000 hectares less than the target. Lack of rain and then heavy rain have also hit the crop, and farmers are frustrated at not getting a fair price for their paddy.

According to the agriculture office, Aus has been planted this year on 44,150 hectares of the district's Aman land, against a target of 57,000 hectares. The office also says 13,000 hectares less Aus was planted this year than last. Lack of rain at the start of cultivation and heavy rain when the paddy was heading reduced production. Last year Aus yielded four tonnes a hectare; this year it yielded three tonnes.

Farmers said Aus is transplanted every year from mid-Baishakh to mid-Jaishtha. This year they planted two varieties, BRRI 48 and BRRI 27. Yields used to be four to four and a half tonnes a hectare; this year they are less than three tonnes. Farmers are now busy harvesting and threshing, and paddy is selling at Tk 800 to 820 a maund in the market.

In various parts of Barguna Sadar, Betagi and Amtali upazilas, a harvest festival is under way. Some are busy threshing cut paddy, and farmers are taking it straight from the threshing ground to market.

Nazrul Islam, a farmer of Khajurtala village in Barguna Sadar upazila, said: "I grew Aus on 28 decimals this year. From the seedbed to cultivation it cost Tk 6,350. For various reasons the Aus yield is poor this year, and I haven't got back even half of what I spent. Paddy prices in the market are also lower than last year."

Another farmer, Nizam Hawlader, said: "I grew Aus on 100 decimals. I spent Tk 20,000 and got 21 maunds of paddy, which I sold at Tk 820 a maund for Tk 17,220. I lost Tk 3,000 on Aus."

Barguna Sadar upazila agriculture officer Mostafizur Rahman said the Aus yield is lower this year than in the past few years. Lack of rain at the start of cultivation and heavy rain when the paddy was heading reduced production, he said.

Zia Uddin Jewel, a farmer of Chaora Kaunia village in Amtali, said: "I hadn't farmed my land for three years. This year I grew Aus hoping for a good profit, but the paddy didn't come. I got only 30 maunds from 120 decimals and lost Tk 15,000."

Sohel Rana, a farmer of Paschim Sonakhali village, said: "I spent Tk 32,000 growing Aus on two acres, but the paddy didn't come. I sold at Tk 840 a maund for only Tk 24,000. With low paddy prices in the market I haven't even covered my costs this year."

Zakir Hossain, a paddy trader in Amtali, said less paddy is coming to market this year because of the low yield, and prices are low too, with paddy selling at Tk 840 to 850 a maund.

Amtali upazila agriculture officer Ichha said the target had almost been achieved. But lack of rain at the start and heavy rain when the crop was heading reduced the paddy somewhat. If paddy prices were a little higher, farmers would profit, the officer said.

Abu Sayed Md Zobaidul Alam, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) office in Barguna, said Aus was planted on 13,000 hectares less than the target this year, and Aus production has fallen.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.