Farmers' plight
Photo: Firoz Gazi / Driknews
The price of rice to the farmer for growing his crop is an important economic index for the country. The selling price of the rice grown by the farmers must provide him a reasonable return on investment. However, an analysis carried out by farmer Khandokar Abdur Rouf giving the detailed cost of raising the crop and its selling price was presented by S. Seraj of Channel i at a seminar on 11 April. This presents a very adverse and depressing situation. It will naturally discourage the planting of rice-- the staple food in Bangladesh! The analysis carried out in northern Bangladesh reported that one bigha of land produces 17 maunds of rice for Boro cultivation. The cost to the farmer for producing this rice, starting from field preparation up to sending the rice to wholesale market (Roth) comes to US$130 ($1=Tk.70). The best selling price the farmer can get is US$5.12 per maund of rice. The farmer's total income from one bigha of land (17maunds) comes to US$87.04. The farmer therefore loses (130-87.04) US$ 42.86 which is Tk.3000 per bigha of rice planted! Given this set of numbers; just to break even; the minimum selling price of Boro rice should be (130/17): that is US$7.65 per maund of rice. Given these alarming numbers; one wonders how the farmer makes up this seasonal losses? May be the profit from Amon planting possibly makes up the losses. However if this equation of cost vs. selling price is not sorted out; we can never improve the quality of life of our farmers. Rice market experts should seriously study this issue; and come out with pragmatic suggestions in the overall interest of the country. I congratulate Mr. Seraj for raising an important national issue, and bringing it to our attention.
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