Boro farming faces setback in Satkhira

Unscrupulous dealers have created an artificial seed crisis. But the authorities' indifference to tackle the situation has shattered the hopes and aspirations of local farmers.

Everyday several hundreds of farmers are seen thronging the seed sales centres of the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), but they are returning homes empty handed. Some dealers are allegedly realising excessive prices. Although the selling price of a10-kg packet of seed supplied by BADC is Tk 170, the dealers are selling it at between Tk 210 to 220.

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According to sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), it has taken up a programme to cultivate boro on about 49, 200 hectares of land while the demand of seed is 1,212 metric tons.

Sources at Satkhira BADC Seed Sales Centre told this correspondent, about 51 metric tonnes of seeds will be sold through sales centres at Satkhira Sadar and Kaliganj upazilas while 146 metric tonnes of seeds will be sold through 34 dealers in the district.

Farmer told this correspondent that surging waters from the Kobadak and incessant rainfalls have flooded a vast tract of land in Kalaroa, Tala, Sadar and Assassuni upazilas damaging standing aman crops. Now they are facing acute seed crisis at the advent of boro season.

Farmers alleged that a section of dealers are selling seeds at between Tk 210 to 250. At places dealers are allegedly cheating farmers by selling adulterated seeds.

On contact, BADC Assistant Director Liakat Hossain said, only 40 metric tonnes of seeds out of local demand of 100 metric tonnes have been sanctioned for Satkhira.

On contact, a reliable source in the office of the Deputy Director of the DAE said, dealers are getting commission at 13 per cent. So, they are supposed to sell seeds at the fixed price. 'If anyone is found to sell seeds at an exorbitant rate, they will be punished', the sources said.