Farmers across the vast haor wetlands of Kishoreganj are now busy harvesting boro paddy, but the festive mood is overshadowed by frustration over low market prices and high production costs. Despite golden fields stretching across Austagram and nearby areas, thousands of farmers are facing severe financial strain due to waterlogging from heavy rains and soaring expenses for irrigation, fertilizer, transport, and labor.

Field visits revealed that production costs have increased several times compared to last year, leaving farmers unable to cover even daily wages by selling a maund of paddy. Many reported selling wet paddy at only Tk 700–800 per maund, far below the Tk 1,200 production cost. The Department of Agricultural Extension said 104,535 hectares of land were cultivated in Kishoreganj’s haor areas this season, targeting 1.3 million metric tons of output.

Although the government fixed the procurement price at Tk 36 per kilogram on April 22, small and marginal farmers remain doubtful about receiving fair prices due to middlemen’s influence. Locals have demanded direct government purchase from genuine farmers to eliminate syndicates and prevent further losses.