In 4 upazilas of Chuadanga district, more than the target Aman paddy has been planted in the current season. The Department of Agricultural Extension has said that there is a possibility of producing 1 lakh 23 thousand 119 metric tonnes of rice in this district. However, although the paddy-rice collection campaign started officially from last November 17, the amount of collection till last December 15 is near zero.
According to the information of the Chuadanga Agricultural Extension Department, the target of Aman paddy cultivation in this district is 34 thousand 920 hectares in the current season. However, total cultivation has been 35 thousand 187 hectares. Which is 267 hectares more than the target. In Chuadanga Sadar upazila 5 thousand 320 hectares, Alamdanga Upazila 16 thousand 512 hectares, Damurhuda Upazila 7 thousand 155 hectares and Jibannagar Upazila 6 thousand 200 hectares of land have been cultivated. The average yield per hectare is 3.499 metric tons. Accordingly, there is a possibility of producing 1 lakh 23 thousand 119 metric tons of Aman rice in this district.
The Department of Agriculture Extension has given an incentive of Tk 24 lakh 6 thousand to 3 thousand farmers with seeds and fertilizer for the cultivation of Bri-paddy and Bina-7 and Swarna varieties of paddy in 2020. In 2021, 7 lakh 82 thousand taka to 2 thousand farmers for paddy cultivation on 2 thousand bigha land. In addition, in 2022, 28 lakh 35 thousand rupees has been given to 10 thousand 550 farmers for paddy cultivation on 10 thousand 500 bigha land. As a result, the agriculture extension department claimed that the cultivation of Aman has increased in the district.
Liton Ali, Harun Or Rashid, farmer of new Tentulia village of Jibannagar upazila of Chuadanga, Rafiqul Islam, farmer of old Tentulia village and Badsha Mia, farmer of Banka village are said to have said that currently Bina-7, Bri-49 and Dhani Gold varieties of paddy are priced from Tk 1,310 1 thousand 320 taka, Swarna and Bri-51 varieties of rice are being sold at the price of 1 thousand 170 taka to 1 thousand 200 taka, Bri-71 and Bri-75 varieties of rice are being sold at the price of 1 thousand 300 taka to 1 thousand 350 taka.
Bivas Chandra Saha, deputy director of the Chuadanga Agricultural Extension Department, said that due to the rains, the rice yield was expected to be damaged. But later the problem was overcome as the weather stabilized. Moreover, there was no pest of insects and spiders. Aman paddy production will be good this year due to planned agriculture system.
Meanwhile, according to the information of the District Food Control Directorate, a target of 2 thousand 255 metric tons of paddy has been set in the 4 upazilas of the district during the Amon season of 2022-2023. The target of paddy collection was 341 metric tons in Sadar upazila, 1 thousand 58 metric tons in Alamdanga Upazila, 459 metric tons in Damurhuda upazila and 397 metric tons in Jibannagar upazila. The target of rice collection in 4 upazilas is 3 thousand 834 metric tonnes. 483 metric tons in Sadar upazila, 612 metric tons in Alamdanga upazila, 325 metric tons in Damurhuda Upazila and 2 thousand 414 metric tonnes in Jibannagar Upazila have been set. The procurement price of paddy is 28 taka per kg and the procurement price of rice is 42 taka. The paddy-rice collection program started from November 17, 2022 and will continue till February 28, 2023. However, until December 15, paddy and rice collection is at zero.
Farmer Nuruzzaman of Boalia village of Sadar Upazila said that the price of rice fixed by the government has been fixed at Tk 1,100 per maund. But we are selling paddy at the price of Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,350 per maund in the village. As a result, our transportation costs are saved, and we do not have to be harassed while selling paddy in government warehouses.
He also said that the transportation cost is incurred while going to sell paddy in government warehouses. As soon as the paddy is taken to the warehouse, various problems are shown and harassed. Finally, the warehouse officials have to sell the paddy. Which is very sad.
A rice mill owner said on condition of anonymity, "We have signed an agreement with the government to supply rice." It is not possible to supply rice due to the huge difference between the current market rate and the price set by the government. Because it is not possible to supply rice at a loss. The government has fixed Tk 1,680 per mound of rice. But rice is being sold at the rate of Tk 2,200 to Tk 2,300 per mound in the open market.
In response to the question why paddy and rice collection is near zero even after a month, Acting District Food Controller AKM Shahidul Islam said that the collection campaign will be extended again. We are trying our best to collect paddy and rice. But still no response.
