Farmers in Raozan are going through a busy time harvesting Aman paddy. Some are cutting ripe paddy from the fields, others are bundling the harvested stalks, while some are carrying the bundles on their shoulders to stack them in courtyards or along roadsides.
In some places, farmers thresh the paddy using machines, bringing home the new harvest. The anticipation of storing fresh rice is creating a unique sense of excitement among the farmers. With favorable weather conditions this season, Aman paddy has yielded well, bringing satisfaction to the farmers. However, despite the good harvest, rising production costs have dampened their spirits, and there is concern about getting fair prices for their produce. Farmers believe that if the price is satisfactory, they will cultivate more paddy in the next season.
When this correspondent visited the area, it was seen that a there is a festive atmosphere in the dew-covered fields, where the ripe golden paddy was being harvested enthusiastically. This is also the season for the traditional Nabanna festival, celebrated during the Hemanta season, starting from the middle of October. Women in farming households are preparing various food items like pitha, payesh, kheer, puffed rice, and murir naru, a sweet item made with puffed rice using the freshly harvested rice.
Mantu Ghosh, a farmer from Brikshyabhanpur village in Haldia union, said, this year, I cultivated Aman paddy on 160 decimals of land, which cost me Tk 60,000. The yield has been good, but harvesting the ripe paddy requires paying each laborer Tk 600 along with two meals a day. Unfortunately, I have never received free seeds or fertilizers from the agriculture office.
Nurul Alam, a farmer from Brindaban village, said, I cultivated Aman paddy on 80 decimals of land and have started harvesting with four laborers. I hope the yield will be good.
The laborers, however, expressed their struggles due to rising costs of living. They stated that this season, they are charging Tk 500 to Tk 600 per day along with two meals.
Sanjoy Kumar Sushil, Sub-Assistant Agricultural Officer of Raozan upazila, said, marginal farmers in Raozan have already started harvesting Aman paddy in full swing. After bringing home the new rice, their celebrations will begin. Farmers are busy harvesting, threshing, and cleaning the paddy before drying it in the sun and storing it. During this time, households prepare various food items like pitha, payesh, and pithapuli to share with neighbors, friends, and relatives.
