Farmers in Ishwardi are being compelled to sell their paddy at a loss in Muladuli, one of the region’s largest wholesale agricultural markets. Despite production costs ranging between Tk 1,100 and Tk 1,200 per maund (approximately 37.3 kg), farmers are currently receiving only Tk 1,050 to Tk 1,100 per maund, resulting in losses of Tk 100 to 150 per maund.
A visit to the Muladuli market revealed the extent of this hardship. Farmers from various upazilas including Ishwardi, Atgharia and Chatmohar in Pabna, and Rajapur and Baraigram in neighbouring Natore district, were seen bringing paddy in sacks via vans and auto-rickshaws to sell to local traders.
Traders confirmed that Muladuli is now considered a major business hub in the region. A wide range of goods including vegetables, fish, and paddy are traded here every day, with business transactions worth several crores of Taka taking place. Hundreds of maunds of vegetables such as beans, okra, cucumber, aubergine, carrots, and bottle gourd are sold daily, with traders transporting them to cities like Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Bogura, and Jashore.
Every Monday, Muladuli hosts a dedicated paddy trading day from early morning until 11 am. On average, 500 to 600 maunds of paddy are traded weekly, although in peak harvest season, this number can rise to 1,200 maunds.
Abdus Sattar, a farmer from Dublarchar in Dashuria Union, brought 12 maunds of paddy to the market, hoping for a better price. “I had stored my paddy at home, hoping to sell it for at least Tk 1,300 per maund. But the traders here are offering only Tk 1,050 to Tk 1,100. This doesn’t even cover my production costs,” he said.
Idris Ali, a farmer from Chatmohar, echoed similar concerns, saying that many farmers are suffering losses because of the low market prices.
According to trader Abdul Gafur, he purchased 200 maunds of paddy that day to sell to rice mills in Ishwardi. “The price has dropped because the demand from husking mills is currently low,” he explained.
Another trader, Monsur Ali, added that paddy prices vary based on quality. “Farmers with high-quality varieties do receive better prices. But overall, the market is quite sluggish at the moment,” he said after purchasing 100 maunds.
Many farmers avoid selling to government rice procurement centres due to bureaucratic delays and complications. "We face harassment over moisture content tests and cannot get accurate information about the procurement schedule," said one farmer.
According to the Ishwardi Upazila Agriculture Office, paddy cultivation has increased, with 6,670 hectares under cultivation, including 2,770 hectares for Boro, 300 hectares for Aus, and 3,600 hectares for Aman-Boro varieties. Agriculture Officer Abdul Momin said government incentives and fertilisers have been distributed in a timely manner.
