Paddy prices have begun rising in Naogaon's markets, up by Tk 50 to 80 a maund over the past 15 days.

The aman harvest and threshing are over in Naogaon, the northern district known as a granary. Farmers are now selling paddy as they need to. The prices have brought them some relief, but they remain uneasy at the rising cost of goods, fertiliser and fuel.

The haat in Raninagar upazila sits on Tuesdays and Saturdays. At the haat last Tuesday (4 January), Swarna-5 paddy rose by Tk 50 to sell at Tk 1,170 to 1,190 a maund. The 49 variety rose by Tk 80 to Tk 1,300 to 1,330, Paijam sold at Tk 1,380 to 1,450 and Katarivog at Tk 1,660 to 1,680 a maund.

Though happy with prices, farmers complain that prices fall when supply in the market rises and climb when their own stocks run low. Traders form syndicates to move prices up and down, so they get the price while farmers are denied a fair one. The farmers want closer monitoring by the administration.

Lutfar Rahman, a farmer of Trimohoni village in the upazila, said: "When we bring paddy to market the price is higher at some haats and lower at others. The traders do their business all the same, and the farmers in the middle lose out. Production costs have risen, so a higher price helps us."

Karim Uddin Mondal, a farmer of Chuniagari village in Sadar upazila, said the price of everything was rising. They were happy with the current paddy price, and if it held or rose a little it would help farmers; perhaps it would rise further.

Small paddy trader Raihan Ali said prices were high at first, dipped in the middle and have started rising again, by Tk 50 to 80 a maund depending on type. Each haat trades 1,200 to 1,500 maunds, supplied by nearby farmers. Most is bought by local traders and rice mill owners, and the rest by traders from outside the district.

Farhad Hossain Chakdar, general secretary of the Naogaon district rice mill owners' group, said aman production had been good. Farmers were selling only as much paddy as they needed to for cash, so supply in the market had fallen and prices had risen. He expects prices to rise further.

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