Set farmer-friendly marketing policy

Most of the boro and wheat growers of the country are smiling now seeing higher yields in the field this year. The growers deserve credit because they have overcome the disruptions to the supply of fertilisers and fuel due to the ongoing political unrest.

Naturally, the unstable condition has led to increased production costs in arranging adequate water supply and ensuring availability of other inputs like fertiliser and seeds as well as power and diesel for irrigation.

However, though some 35 percent of the wheat crop has so far been harvested, farmers will start harvesting boro crop after the second week of April and complete harvesting by May.

Reports say that the boro crop has been planted on 48.3 lakh hectares. The acreage of the current season is above last year's 47.9 lakh hectares.

On the other hand, wheat acreage rose to 4.81 lakh hectares this season from 4.29 lakh hectares the previous year.

However, if the government fails to set grower-friendly marketing policy before harvesting season this year, farmers may incur loss this year also.

Mobarak Ali
Gopibagh, Dhaka