Golden Aman rice is ripening across the Golaghar area of Dhamrai in Savar, bringing waves of optimism to farming households after a season of favorable weather. Vast fields shimmer with mature paddy, and the air is filled with the sweet aroma of ripened rice as farmers rush to harvest the crops they nurtured with months of hard labor. This year’s strong Aman yield has brought visible relief and satisfaction to farmers, many of whom are witnessing better production compared to previous seasons.
However, amid this abundance, anxiety has begun to overshadow the joy of harvest. A severe shortage of harvesting labor has left many farmers unable to cut their crops on time, even after the paddy has fully ripened. Despite offering higher wages, farmers report that laborers remain scarce, creating fears of crop losses if harvesting is delayed.
One farmer said that day laborers are difficult to find, and even when available, they demand between BDT 800 and BDT 1,000 per day, which many farmers cannot afford. As a result, several farmers are being forced to harvest the paddy themselves with family members, adding physical strain during a critical period.
Farmers in Dhamrai cultivated a wide range of Aman rice varieties this year, including BR-49, BR-32, BR-7, BR-17, BR-34, Jira Badam, along with several hybrid and other improved varieties. Favorable weather conditions throughout the growing season contributed to strong yields across these varieties. Nevertheless, alongside the labor shortage, rising prices of fertilizers and pesticides have significantly increased production costs, placing additional financial pressure on farmers.
Another farmer expressed concern that the money invested in cultivation may not be fully recovered due to high input costs. He added that farmers would be relieved if the government reduced fertilizer prices, as this would ease their burden and help sustain farming livelihoods.
The Department of Agricultural Extension has stated that farmers have been receiving continuous guidance to ensure good yields. Officials explained that the current labor shortage is temporary and largely due to the simultaneous harvesting season across multiple regions, which has driven up demand for agricultural workers nationwide.
Dhamrai Upazila Agriculture Officer Arifur Rahman said that farmers benefited from favorable environmental conditions throughout the Aman season. He noted that the target for Aman cultivation in the upazila was 8,560 hectares, which has been exceeded. According to official estimates, Aman rice has been cultivated on nearly 10,000 hectares of land this year, and farmers are successfully bringing the harvest home despite the challenges.
This year, Aman paddy has been cultivated across approximately 10,000 hectares of land in Dhamrai upazila, marking a strong agricultural performance even as labor shortages and rising input costs continue to test farmers’ resilience.
