Abdus Salam, Dinajpur
Thousands of farmers of Dinajpur district are apprehending a huge loss due to a very low price of maize in the markets. Though, like the previous years, farmers reap a bumper production of maize from their fields in Dinajpur district, due to a very low price of maize in the markets, they are disappointed and are worried about repayment of the bank loans they drew during cultivation of maize in their fields.
Sources informed, every year the syndicate of maize traders fixed the prices of maize which is far-lower than that of the production cost. As a result, farmers are forced to sell their produce at a price below the production cost.
But, soon after the farmers finished the selling of maize, the vested syndicate groups then increased the price of maize. But, the farmers by that time exhaust the stock of their maize and are deprived from getting a satisfactory price of the produce and benefitting a number of dishonest traders and the middlemen.
Farmers informed, during the same time last year, price of maize was Taka 700 to 750 per mound but from the starting of this maize season this year, the price of maize has been dropped abnormally and farmers were selling maize at Taka 530 t0 570 per mound this year.
They further informed, the production of maize this year is better than that of last year. There was no damage of the crop due to a fair weather but the low market price of maize is almost driving the farmers mad. They are afraid, they will not be able to repay bank loan by selling maize at such a low market price.
Farmers further mentioned, it costs Taka 10,000 to 12,000 to cultivate Maize in a Bigha of land and nearly 30-maunds of maize is produced from a Bigha of land. At present, each mound of maize is being sold at only Taka 550.
Touhidul Iqbal, Deputy Director of Rajshahi district Agricultural Extension Department informed, the maize production surpassed target this year.
Maize farmer Hasinur Rahman informed, he sold maize at Taka 700 per mound last year but this year the price remained below Taka 560 per mound.
Sources said, the maize market is under the grip of Poultry Feed Producers and the influential cereal traders. They have formed a syndicate and fixed the market price of maize as will. They used to purchase maize from the farmers at a very low price and store those in their warehouses. Farmers are forced to sell the maize a low price, often below the production cost.
Whenever the farmers exhausted their stock of maize, the syndicate then increased the price to Taka 200 to 300 per mound. As a result, farmers incurred a huge loss. They have demanded intervention of the government to ensure fair price of maize so that farmers are not losers.