Maize cultivators in Dinajpur are facing enormous troubles to repay the bank loans and interests as they got no reasonable price of the produce.
The farmers alleged that the wholesale prices are being controlled by a syndicate in favour of a vested group of traders.
Mentionable, Dinajpur produces the highest amount of maize in the country as the soil and climate of the district are suitable for its production. Hence, the farmers are more eager to cultivate maize.
Farmers said they used to get reasonable prices of maize in the past years. So, like previous years, this year also they cultivated maize willingly hoping a good profit.
But this year, they said, they had got no reasonable price of their produce due to a plot hatched by the syndicate. As a result, they are financially in trouble to repay the bank loans and interests.
They alleged that the syndicate out of tricks fix the price of maize to their advantage, and buy maize at a lower price from the farmers who ultimately become deprived of their due price, only for the benefit of a certain interest-group.
It is further learnt from the farmers that after incurring loss in the cultivation of other crops, they had the hope to gain profits in maize cultivation this year. But their dream did not turn into reality because of the lower wholesale price that barely covers the production cost.
“The production of maize has been better this year than that of previous years. Last year maize was sold at Tk 700 -750 per maund, but this year, it is being sold at Tk 530-570 per maund,” informed the frustrated farmers. The farmers, out of disappointment and frustration, apprehended that if this low rate of maize continues, they will lose their home and hearth very soon.
They further said we do not get even our production cost, not to speak of gaining any profit.
Sources alleged that maize market is totally controlled by a syndicate of businessmen who buy maize at a lower rate and then sell at a higher rate, ensuring huge profit. Thus, the farmers become deprived.
In the circumstance, farmers demanded the regular government monitoring of the market.