Rajshahi, April 27, (V7N )— Farmers across Rajshahi and the wider northwestern region are facing severe financial distress as paddy prices have dropped by Tk 300–400 per maund in just one month. The decline, driven by a nationwide fuel shortage linked to the Iran war, has disrupted transport networks, raised vehicle rental costs, and slowed the movement of agricultural goods from rural markets to urban centers.

The ongoing fuel crisis has sharply reduced the availability of trucks, covered vans, and even small vehicles used to carry paddy from local markets to district centers. Farmers say traders from outside districts are no longer arriving to buy their produce, while local transport rentals have doubled. As a result, paddy shipments from Rajshahi, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, and other major producing districts have declined significantly.

Abu Bakkar, a farmer at Kesharhat market in Mohanpur, explained the impact: “Where per maund paddy was earlier sold for Tk 1,500–1,600, now it is being sold for Tk 1,200–1,300. Even fine paddy prices have dropped. We are facing financial losses.

The crisis has also affected rice mill owners, who traditionally buy large quantities of paddy from northern districts. With transport costs soaring and fuel scarce, millers are unable to send rice to Dhaka and other parts of the country. This has led to reduced purchases at the source, further depressing local prices.

Rafiqul Islam, president of the Rajshahi Rice Mill Owners Association, said: “The energy crisis has affected agricultural products. Higher transport rents make it difficult to buy paddy and bring it to mills, which negatively impacts prices.”

According to the Agricultural Information Division of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh produced 2.15 crore metric tons of paddy in the last Aman season. Of this, 9 million metric tons came from 16 districts in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. Naogaon, Rajshahi, Bogra, and Dinajpur are the highest-producing districts, home to more than 400 automatic rice mills that process huge volumes daily.

For years, farmers in these districts have enjoyed relatively stable prices due to strong demand from millers and traders. But the current fuel crisis has disrupted this balance, leaving farmers with unsold stock and declining incomes.

Dr. Azizur Rahman, Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, acknowledged the problem: “Due to the fuel crisis, there is some stagnation in the transport sector. Not only paddy, but also vegetables and other agricultural products from the northwestern districts have seen declines. However, we hope the situation will return to normal soon.”

The crisis has created ripple effects across the agricultural economy. Reduced transport has slowed the flow of goods to urban centers, while rising costs have eroded profit margins for both farmers and traders. The decline in paddy prices is particularly damaging because rice remains the staple crop and primary source of income for millions of rural households.

Farmers across Rajshahi and Naogaon expressed frustration at the lack of buyers. Local markets are filled with paddy, but traders are absent. Even when buyers appear, they offer significantly lower prices. Many farmers say they are being forced to sell at a loss to cover debts and household expenses.

One farmer explained: “There are no traders in the markets. They are not buying rice. We are stuck with our crops.”  

This sentiment reflects a growing sense of vulnerability among rural producers, who depend heavily on timely sales to sustain livelihoods.

Transport operators also acknowledge the crisis. Al Amin Sarkar, president of the Rajshahi Truck and Covered Van Owners Association, said: “Transport movement has decreased due to the fuel crisis. This has had some impact on the movement of goods.”  

With fewer vehicles on the road and higher rental costs, the supply chain has slowed, creating bottlenecks that directly affect farmers and millers.

The fuel shortage stems from disruptions in global energy markets caused by the Iran war. Bangladesh, heavily reliant on imported fuel, has struggled to maintain adequate supplies. The crisis has highlighted the vulnerability of the country’s agricultural sector to external shocks, as transport and energy costs directly influence farmgate prices.

While officials hope the situation will stabilize soon, farmers remain anxious. The decline of Tk 400 per maund represents a significant loss, especially for smallholders who operate on thin margins. If transport and fuel supplies do not improve quickly, the crisis could deepen, affecting not only paddy but also vegetables and other crops.

For now, the government’s challenge is twofold: ensuring adequate fuel supplies to restore transport networks, and providing immediate relief to farmers facing losses. Without intervention, the decline in paddy prices could discourage future cultivation, undermining food security in the long run.

The sharp drop in paddy prices in Rajshahi and surrounding districts illustrates how global crises can ripple through local economies. Farmers, millers, and transport operators are all caught in the squeeze created by fuel shortages. While officials express optimism about recovery, the immediate reality for farmers is one of financial loss and uncertainty.  

Unless transport networks are restored and buyers return to the markets, the northwestern region’s agricultural backbone risks being weakened — a development that could have lasting consequences for Bangladesh’s food economy.

END/RAR/RH