Boro Harvest: Labour crisis in Habiganj

Boro paddy harvesting season is now in the haors of Habiganj. At the beginning of Baisakh, paddy harvesting began, but now the ripe paddy is swinging across the vast haor. However, paddy harvesting is being 'disrupted' due to labor shortage. As a result, there has been concern about harvesting the dream of the farmer in time.

Also, the workers who are only nominally harvesting paddy are also getting extra wages. Due to which the farmers are in extreme trouble. Although the Habiganj district administration says that there is no shortage of rice harvesting workers in Howar. If there is any such farmer who is not getting labourers, he is asked to contact the district administration.

According to the information provided by the Habiganj District Agricultural Extension Department, 1 lakh 22 thousand hectares of land have been cultivated in the district this time. Most of these have been planted in Baniachang upazila. At the same time, extensive boro paddy cultivation has also taken place in Ajmiriganj and Lakhai upazilas, which are known as the furnace regions of the district. Bri-28 and Bri-29 varieties of paddy were destroyed in Chita, but other varieties of paddy produced bumper results in the district. However, this time there is a doubt among the workers about the paddy harvesting. This crisis has increased due to insufficient number of workers coming from outside the district. And all the native laborers who are harvesting paddy are also getting extra wages.

On the surface, the haor of Muradpur village of Baniachong upazila can be seen, the golden rice of the farmer's dream is now swinging across the vast field.

Even though the paddy has ripened in most of the lands, the farmers are unable to harvest it due to labor shortage. Also, there are not enough workers in those lands where rice is being harvested. As a result, there is a kind of apprehension among the farmers about harvesting the paddy on time. Farmers say that there is no danger of submerging the paddy due to the advance flood, but if there is hailstorm along with the stormy wind, the paddy may be severely damaged. And there is a possibility that the ripe rice of the land will fall in the storm. Also the farmers who have harvested paddy and taken it home are seen happily engaged in Boishakhi work.

Farmer Abdul Hannan said, the paddy of my land has ripened a week ago. But I can't harvest paddy because I don't get workers. I am going to the workers every day to harvest paddy. But I am not getting their serial. He said that not enough workers from outside the district have come to our area this time. That is why this crisis has increased. Now I am in doubt about harvesting the ripe paddy in the field.

Farmer Chanaur Rahman Chowdhury said, on the one hand, Bri-28 variety of paddy has been destroyed in the field, on the other hand, even if other types of paddy have ripened, we cannot get laborers to cut them. Even with 1 maund of paddy now a laborer is not available. Also, we have to pay 3 to 3.5 thousand taka in cash for each acre of land. Shah Ramim said that paddy can be cut by harvester in the high land, but the paddy in the low land has to be cut by laborers. But the workers are taking extra wages from us. Due to labor shortage, we are forced to harvest paddy with more money.

When asked about this, Ishrat Jahan, Deputy Commissioner of Habiganj, said that there is no shortage of workers in Howar. But some wages may have increased. If there are any such then contact us and we will assist them.

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