Palashbari/Gaibandha/Representative/

In Palashbari of Gaibandha, there has been a bumper crop of paddy in the current Boro season. Although the yield is good, there is a look of disappointment on the faces of the farmers. Due to doubling the price of agricultural laborers and not getting agricultural laborers on time, the expression of disappointment has been noticed on the faces of the farmers. Also, after a long drought, Kalboishakhi storms and heavy rains are coming – this is what the Meteorological Department is predicting.

In the paddy field now golden ears and ripe rice are swaying in the gentle breeze. Although it is the right time to harvest rice, the farmers are very afraid of raising rice in hundreds of hectares of land due to lack of agricultural workers. It is needless to say that if there is a sudden hailstorm or the beginning of Baisakhi tomorrow, the amount of rice will be damaged.

Harez Ali, an agricultural worker in Palashbari town, said – I used to do various jobs including harvesting rice. Currently driving autorickshaw. A lot of trouble in harvesting rice. Driving an autorickshaw is easy. Apart from this, the income is also high.
Azam, a farmer of Garkaipara village of Sultanpur, said that when he hears the roar of the sky, his chest trembles with fear, this means that hail will start. Paddy is ripe in the land, but due to the shortage of agricultural laborers, I cannot harvest the paddy.
Why not harvest rice with a harvester machine? In response to such a question, he said, “There are less paddy cutting machines in our area.” He also said – if the weather is favorable and agricultural workers are available on time, it is expected that the farmers will be able to harvest and thresh all the boro rice and bring it home properly within two weeks.

Korban Ali of Andua village of Kishoregari union said – As there are no agricultural workers, I am cutting my own paddy with my wife and children. 4 thousand taka is being spent on paddy cutting of 33 century land, 5/6 thousand taka including threshing. The only fear is that if there is additional rain after the rain, I will face a lot of damage. No one cares about the farmer. The harvester machine of the government is of no use.

Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Abdul Momin said – Harvesting paddy with combined harvester machines is an alternative to agricultural workers. But as all the farmers do not plant the same type of rice, this machine is not very useful. Palashbari Upazila Agriculture Officer Fatema Kaiser Mishu said – I have heard about the labor crisis. Agriculture department has already distributed 10 harvester machines in the upazila. A few more machines will be delivered in 2/4 days. Farmers can harvest paddy with harvester machines if they want.
If the farmers are supposed to cut the paddy of the field under the Samalaya project, why are they not cutting the paddy with the harvester machine? In response to such questions, the agricultural officer said that if a farmer does not cut rice, what do we have to do? Is there a lack of awareness in this regard? In response to such questions, he said there may be lack of awareness.