Farmers in Bangladesh’s haor region are struggling to preserve their Boro paddy harvest after sudden rainfall and water inflow from India left fields submerged. The harvested paddy remains too wet to store or sell, as continuous rain and lack of sunlight prevent drying. A shortage of drying machines has worsened the situation, leaving much of the crop unsellable. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has deployed drying machines and labor support, but these measures remain insufficient.

The government has begun paddy procurement at Tk 1,440 per maund, but most farmers cannot meet the 14 percent moisture requirement, forcing them to sell at distress prices of Tk 400–600 per maund in open markets. Middlemen are reportedly exploiting the situation by buying cheaply and reselling at higher prices. Agricultural economist Dr. Jahangir Alam suggested that the government could buy wet paddy and dry it elsewhere to stabilize the market.

Preliminary assessments show extensive crop losses across Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, Netrokona, and Mymensingh, affecting tens of thousands of farmers. Officials say damage surveys and relief measures are underway, but uncertainty remains over how quickly affected farmers can recover.