Farmers are being hampered due to continuous political violence and blockade of the political agenda. In winter, season, in spite of having a huge yield of vegetable, the farmers are being hampered due to the continuous blockade and collapsing of a market system. The researchers are saying that though this season has bumper yield, the majority of it is being destroyed due to acute shortages of the goods transportation system.
By orbiting around the market, in Mohammadpur one vegetable trader is found who has come to Dhaka to sell his own vegetables himself. Vegetable trader Mohammad Saiful Islam comes from Savar every day because he had started to lose his farm produced vegetables due to this blockade. He says that trading is very low, and goods are not bringing profit. Though he is coming every day from very far, his pains know no bounds. He also says that due to the absence of wholesale dealers, the winter vegetables are getting waste, and the frustrations of the farmers are increasing rapidly.
Farmer Mohammad Jahidul from Bhaluimarira, Ishwardi has exactly the same condition. He said that the cauliflower is not a long-lasting vegetable. Which cauliflower is the cost of 1400 taka per Mon now is being sold at only 400 Taka per Mon. He also said that his vegetables were being destroyed in his field, and he cannot be able to make any profit by selling them at a lower rate?
Like farmers, agricultural researchers also say that in this year, winter vegetables have grown in yield, but in the context of political instability, farmers are suffering the most.
Agricultural economist Dr. Mahbub Hossain said that 30 percent of the produced vegetables are taken by the farmers or sold on the village market. Remaining 70 percent come into the towns or cities for selling. But in running situation, this transaction is being hampered. The amount of loss is higher than the number of vegetable productions. So the rural farmers are not being benefited. Also, the customers have to buy vegetables at a higher rate in the city.
While entering in Karwan Bazar, a dozen trucks filled with different types of vegetables were seen as standing. Many vegetables were rotting on the roadside. It turns out that the numbers of buyers were much lower than the sellers.
Mohammad Kamal Hossain a wholesaler was seen at Karwan Bazar while selling baggage at 11 Taka which he bought only at 4 Taka from Meherpur, Kushtia.
Referring to the situation in the general strike by transportation crisis, Mr. Hassan says that transportation cost has increased than earlier. Besides, people have to pay in advance for transportation.
In this, one of the busiest raw markets of Dhaka City, many traders are seen to sell different vegetables at different prices. There is only one reason behind this situation, and that is the cost of transporting goods. Though the customers are buying vegetables at a lower rate, the question is, “are the farmers getting their rights and fair value?”
The answer can be gotten from the vegetable wholesaler Mohammad Amir Hossain. He said that farmers were going to die because they could not sell their goods. Vehicles are destroyed due to blockade and for this reason; farmers’ worries know no bounds.
Despite a bumper harvest of vegetables in this winter, there is no smile in the farmers face and this situation is perfectly cleared in their voices. But the agricultural researchers are saying that necessary initiatives for proper maintenance of produced vegetables should be taken so that the farmers can get their fair value.
