Series of Programmes Begin
AL allies demand fair paddy price
The series of nationwide street programmes called by some allies of the ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance to demand fair prices of paddy and rice began in the capital yesterday.
Jatiya Krishak Jote, an associated body of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), organised a human chain programme in front of Jatiya Press Club yesterday to press home the demand.
Meanwhile, Workers' Party of Bangladesh will block the Jessore-Khulna Highways today and the deputy commissioner's office in Narail on June 13 to voice the demand.
The series of blockade and human chain programmes were being organised in different districts against the backdrop of low prices of paddy and rice across the country.
According to farmers of the country's southern districts, the price of paddy is currently Tk 500 to Tk 550 maximum for 40kgs, which does not even cover the farmers' production costs.
On May 27, leaders of the AL-led 14-party alliance expressed their resentment over the fall in the prices of paddy and jute and urged the government to ensure fair prices to the farmers.
“We want to keep pressure on the government ahead of the national budget so that the government sincerely ensures fair prices of paddy and rice to save the farmers,” said JSD General Secretary Sharif Nurul Ambia, referring to purpose of the ongoing programmes.
Reviewing the production costs of paddy found that the cost ranges from at least Tk 650 to Tk 700, he said.
Food ministry officials said they have started buying paddy and rice from the farmers at Tk 18 and Tk 28 respectively per kilogram.
JSD and Workers' Party leaders said the government fixed rate would not be a fair price to the farmers, who would not get this just price due to the different intermediaries and party men involved in the process of collecting paddy and rice from the farmers and millers.
“We want the government to buy paddy and rice from the farmers at prices higher than the fixed rates,” said Sharif.
He cautioned that lack of measures by the government in this regard could have a negative impact on the rice production next year as more and more farmers would not be interested in cultivating rice considering its low price.
Besides, there will also be a negative impact on the livelihoods of the farmers across the country if they do not get fair price, said the JSD leader.
SM Golam Kibria, senior information officer of food ministry, said the government will buy 9 lakh metric tonnes of rice and 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from the farmers within August this year.
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