Along with the price of diesel and electricity for irrigation pumps, the cost of fertiliser, pesticide and labour has risen, pushing up the cost of growing boro rice. Farmers in Gaibandha say boro is costing about Tk 6,000 more per bigha this year.

Farmers say that unless they get a higher price for paddy at the end of the season, they will not recover their production costs. They have also demanded higher paddy and rice prices in the government procurement drive.

According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the boro target in Gaibandha this season is 129,015 hectares. So far 93 per cent, more than 121,000 hectares, has been planted, and planting will continue until 20 March.

In several unions of Gaibandha Sadar upazila, farmers were seen transplanting boro seedlings, while others were lifting potatoes from their fields to prepare for boro.

Farmers said growing boro on one bigha (33 decimals) cost about Tk 12,500 last season and will exceed Tk 18,000 this year. Irrigation per bigha rose from Tk 1,300 to Tk 1,600. Seed went from Tk 200 to Tk 350 a kg. Fertiliser rose from Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,500, pesticide from Tk 600 to Tk 1,000, and transplanting wages from Tk 400 to Tk 500–600, along with many other costs.

Babla Mia, a farmer in Nasratpur of Boali union in Sadar upazila, said irrigation costs more this year because diesel and electricity prices have gone up, and seed and everything else is also dearer.

Saiful Islam, a farmer in Beradanga of Kuptala union in Sadar upazila, told Jago News: "We grow paddy whether we eat or not. This time cultivation costs more. If we do not get a price at harvest, there is no way out for the farmer but death. No one looks out for farmers."

Mojibar Rahman of Katihata village in Ghagoa union said he has grown boro on about six bigha this year, and it has cost much more than last year. Last year irrigation water cost Tk 100–110 an hour; this year it is Tk 150–160 an hour. Fertiliser is dearer, and so are pesticide and seed, he said.

Nur Akhtar Hossain, a farmer in the Dashani area, told Jago News that because wages are high he is tending the crop with his mother, wife and son, but costs are still higher.

Khorshed Alam, deputy director of the Gaibandha DAE, told Jago News that boro needs a lot of irrigation. To cut costs, farmers are being advised to irrigate in moderation and to use fertiliser and pesticide according to the rules.

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