Storms Damage Boro Paddy in Gazipur, Farmers Face Losses Amid Labor Shortage and Low Prices

The Boro paddy harvest in Gazipur, Bangladesh, is currently facing a devastating blow as continuous rain and strong winds wreak havoc on the crops. Farmers, who had anticipated a good yield, are now staring at significant financial losses, with preliminary estimates from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) indicating a loss of about 1,800 tonnes across 300 hectares.

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I had harvested paddy from one bigha of land and kept it in the field. But due to continuous rain, much of it is getting damaged.

This natural calamity strikes at a time when farmers are already struggling with a dual challenge: a severe shortage of agricultural laborers and depressingly low market prices for their produce. Many farmers, like Milon Mia from Lohadi village, have seen their harvested paddy, left in the field, getting ruined by the relentless rain. The inability to even harvest the crop, despite offering wages above Tk 1,000 per day, highlights the critical labor deficit.

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The paddy yield is good, but we cannot harvest it because of the rain. We are also unable to find labourers, even after offering more than Tk 1,000 per day.

Adding insult to injury, the market prices are so low that farmers like Shafiqul Islam are finding it difficult to even break even on their cultivation costs, which can run up to Tk 20,000 per bigha. This economic pressure, combined with the crop damage, creates a dire situation for the agricultural community, which forms the backbone of our nation's food security.

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About 30 of us are working here. We are staying near Amraid Bazar and harvesting paddy at a daily wage of Tk 1,000.

From the perspective of The Daily Star, this situation is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in our agricultural sector. While we celebrate technological advancements and initial good yields, the impact of adverse weather and market dynamics cannot be ignored. The government and relevant authorities must urgently address the labor shortage and explore mechanisms to ensure fair prices for farmers, thereby protecting not just their livelihoods but also the nation's food supply.

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We are not working at the moment due to heavy rain. We will resume work once the rain stops.