A bumper harvest of Boro paddy has been achieved in the haor areas of Kishoreganj during the current season. However, despite exceeding production targets, farmers are frustrated due to not receiving fair prices.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, the cultivation target for Boro paddy in the district for the 2025–26 fiscal year was set at 168,260 hectares. In contrast, cultivation slightly exceeded the target, reaching 168,262 hectares. Of this, 104,581 hectares were cultivated in haor areas and 63,681 hectares in non-haor areas. The production target was set at 796,686 metric tons of rice and 1,195,029 metric tons of paddy.
The use of modern technology in harvesting has also increased. Approximately 70% of the paddy in the district is being harvested using combine harvesters, with around 580 to 600 machines in operation. The remaining 30% is being harvested manually by laborers.
As of April 27, about 61% of the total paddy harvesting in the district has been completed. Among this, 50% has been harvested in haor areas and 11% in non-haor areas. A total of 569 combine harvesters and 26,885 laborers are currently engaged in the harvesting process.
Despite the good yield, farmers are facing difficulties due to rising production costs. Konok Rani Das, a female farmer from the haor region, said, “I cultivated paddy on 15 acres of land. The high prices of fertilizer and diesel have significantly increased production costs. Although the yield is good, the market price of paddy is low. If the government-fixed price were properly implemented at the field level, we could have made some profit.”
Farmer Rahim Mia stated that selling paddy at the current market price would result in a loss of around 15,000 to 20,000 taka per acre.
Another farmer, Monnash, said, “I sold 200 maunds of paddy at 675 taka per maund. It is difficult even to recover the production cost. The cost of producing one maund is around 850 to 900 taka. Although the government has announced a purchase price of 1,440 taka per maund, ordinary farmers are not benefiting from it.”
Farmers are demanding that the government ensure the announced price reaches genuine farmers. Concerned stakeholders warn that if fair prices are not ensured, farmers may lose interest in cultivating paddy in the future.