Govt urged to collect rice from farmers
Farmers at a human chain programme demanding immediate implementation of the decision to purchase rice directly from them by the government. Nagorik Sanghati and Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood organised the event before the National Museum in the capital yesterday. Photo: STAR
Speakers at a citizens' rally yesterday demanded immediately implementation of the government's decision to directly collect rice from farmers. Though there is bumper harvest of Boro rice this year, the farmers are not getting a fair price to sell their harvest, they said. Nagorik Sanghati and Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods jointly organised the rally in front of the national museum in the capital. On one bigha land (1 bigha = 33 decimals), 20 maunds of rice is produced. The production cost of per tonne Boro rice is Tk 750 while it's selling in the open market at Tk 450 to Tk 500, incurring the farmers a loss. The government's rate of selling rice is Tk 720, which still leaves the farmers with a Tk 30 loss. To end this situation, the government announced that it is going to collect rice directly from the farmers from May 3, though no action has been taken as yet. Some businessmen and intermediaries have created a syndicate, taking advantage of the current situation, to control the rice market. The mill owners are also hesitant to buy the rice, who will start purchasing once the government begins the rice collection.
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