Tonnes of boro paddy from the haor are arriving at Bhairab in Kishoreganj. At first the paddy came in wet, so prices were low; now dry paddy is arriving. In two weeks, the price of paddy has risen by Tk 200 to 350 a maund, bringing smiles to farmers' faces.

A visit to the river port town's Bhairab Bazar at noon on Wednesday, 31 May, found thousands of maunds of boro paddy arriving every day at the Bhairab Bazar wholesale market from 30 upazilas in five haor districts. Farmers and traders are bringing tonnes of dry paddy by trawler. With local rice mills running, traders are buying paddy at the Bhairab market.

In Falgun and Chaitra last year, old paddy sold for Tk 1,400 to 1,500 a maund. But when the boro harvest began, it sold for Tk 700 to 750 a maund early in Baishakh, leaving farmers disappointed. Paddy is now selling at the market for Tk 900 to 1,100 a maund, which has pleased sellers.

Farmer Abdul Jabbar of Itna upazila in Kishoreganj said: "Fifteen days ago I sold 400 maunds of paddy in Bhairab at Tk 700 a maund and made a loss. Today I sold 500 maunds at Tk 930 a maund, which will leave some profit."

Farmer Nuruddin of Krishnapur village in Khaliajuri upazila, Netrokona, said: "I brought 200 maunds of paddy to Bhairab on Tuesday and sold it today at Tk 900 a maund. This year it cost Tk 800 a maund to produce. The price of paddy will rise further."

Paddy seller Zaman Mia at Bhairab Bazar said that early in Baishakh, when raw paddy came from the haor, prices were low. Now dry paddy is arriving at the Bhairab market from the haor, so prices have risen by Tk 200 to 350 a maund. This week fine paddy is selling at Tk 1,100 a maund and coarse paddy at Tk 900 to 1,000.

Bhairab Chamber president Alhaj Md Humayun Kabir told Jago News that government purchases of paddy for food warehouses have not yet started. This time the government will buy paddy at Tk 30 a kg and rice at Tk 44 a kg. Prices were low early in Baishakh because farmers brought raw paddy, and they have risen now that dry paddy is arriving. Market prices could rise further once government purchases begin. He said thousands of maunds of paddy are arriving at Bhairab from the haor region every day and a great deal is being sold.

Bhairab upazila agriculture officer Aklima Begum told Jago News that it is normal for prices to rise when dry paddy arrives after harvest. Early in Baishakh farmers cut paddy from the fields and bring it to market raw, which is why prices were low 15 days ago. Prices will rise further when the government starts buying paddy, and farmers have no reason to be disappointed.

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