Home ›› 02 Jan 2022 ›› Nation
Kalaiya Dhan Haat, one of the largest rice markets in Baufal upazila under Patuakhali district, is buzzing with buyers and sellers this season.
Kalaiya Union Parishad Chairman SM Faisal Ahmed Monir Hossain Mollah said, “Traders from different districts of the country come to the market to do business throughout the year.”
During the paddy season, several lakh maunds of paddy are sold every market day, he said.
The marginal farmers of the region are benefiting a lot from the market, he added.
The market sits every Monday of the week. It starts buzzing since Sunday centring Monday’s trade. The government collects revenues of more than Tk 1 crore from the market every year.
According to the market traders, at least one lakh maunds of paddy is sold every market day during the paddy season. Paddy prices are also relatively low during the season.
At the time, paddy is sold at Tk 700 to 750 per maund because there is sufficient supply in the market. Apart from the season, 30,000 to 40,000 maunds of paddy are sold.
When this correspondent visited the market on Monday, he found it had become crowded with buyers and sellers. Traders came from all over the country. Mainly marginal farmers came to the market to sell their paddy.
Traders came from Noakhali, Chattogram, Dhaka, Munshiganj, Pabna, Jashore, Khulna, Barisal, Jhalakathi, Patuakhali, and Bhola along with adjoining Dashmina, Rangabali, Kalapara, Galachipa, Dumki, and Taltoli with hundreds of trawlers and boats.
The local varieties of Tepushail paddy are sold at Tk 700 to 750 per maund, Kajalshail and Rajashail at Tk 750 to 800, and Agrani at Tk 815.
Many farmers expressed their dissatisfaction with the low prices of the crops. Farmer Md Khalil Bepari was frustrated after selling four maunds of Tepushail at Tk 750 per maund. He said that farmers would die to trade paddy at this price.
“How will farmers cultivate paddy in future?” he questioned.
Farmer Abdul Gani Kazi, Rahman, and many others echoed him.
Paddy prices are a bit lower this week than last week, said Khokon Kundu, a local wholesaler. Asked about the reason, he said that the price of paddy has also been low due to the low price of rice in the last few days.
Rice storekeeper Masudur Rahman and Kartik Saha told The Business Post that the farmers are not able to benefit due to the increase in production cost, including fertiliser, medicine and labour wages. Although the price is a little lower, this situation will not last long.
Besides, not all wholesalers in the north have started buying paddy yet. They think that the situation will improve if they come forward.
The Kalaiya Port leaseholder said buyers and sellers from different places come to the market.
“We provide security for them so that they can return to their destinations safely after finishing their trade. Paddy worth Tk 2 to 2.5 crore is sold at the market. No additional lease money is charged from the sellers,” he said.
Baufal Upazila Nirbahi Officer Al-Amin said Kalaiya is a traditional market of the region. “Crops worth crores of Taka are traded here every week. It is the largest market for rice, especially in the southern region.”
Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Kamal Hossain said Kalaiya is a reliable market for buying and selling various agricultural products.
The market has been able to continue its tradition as buyers and sellers can do business here easily, he added.
