The New Nation - Internet Edition

Media reports have it that farmers of different areas of the country are selling off their 'would- be harvested' paddy in advance to pay back the outstanding loans to the mahajans from whom they borrowed the money as seed capital for Boro cultivation in the back-drop of hal khata - that stands on 14th April (Pahela Baishakh) this year.

It is really a shocking news for the marginal paddy producers - be that the land owner or share croppers. They will be just pressurised to sell the paddy at a throw-away price. In the final accounting they (farmers) will sustain eventual losses. This should not be allowed to happen. The government should immediately look into the matter to safeguard the interests of the marginal growers otherwise the farmers may lose interest in paddy cultivation which will further aggravate the food crisis in the country on long term basis.

Abu Musa Miah

Lalbagh, Dhaka.