PATNA: Though the early arrival of southwest monsoon was a breather for the farmers preparing their agricultural land for paddy plantation, the constant rise in fuel prices is a cause of concern as it may increase the production cost.
Most farming activities like ploughing, watering the fields, separating grains and harvesting are done through tractors, water pumps, thresher and harvest machines that operate on diesel.
But since the fuel prices have gone up, the cost of farming activities has increased manifold.
Diesel prices in Bihar have reached around Rs 96 per litre from Rs 75 per litre during the same period last year.
In the last 20 days, diesel prices have increased by over Rs 2.46 per litre.
According to farmers and agriculture experts, fuel prices play a vital role in determining the input cost of crops.
Dr Abdus Sattar, an agro meteorologist at Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, said during the puddling (process of destruction of soil structure by submerging it under water) operation, tractors are needed to prepare the field for rice cultivation.
“Generally, 2 to 3cm standing water is required.
Many farmers use tractors for which diesel is required, while few still use traditional bullock ploughs,” he said.
He added, “Once the transplantation of seedling is done, the land needs 30 to 35mm rain per week for good yield.
But transplantation should be done by mid-July.” Mahabir Ojha (69), native of Chotka Singhanpura in Buxar said diesel price determines the cost of input by 10-15%.
“To plough the agriculture land, we hire tractor by paying Rs 150 per hour, however, last year, it was around Rs 70-80 per hours.
We need tractor from July to August and even in June, before sowing.
I have 35 acres of land and every year, we produce up to 45-50 quintals of rice.
But it is difficult for me to find a buyer for the rice produce,” said Ojha.
Ram Briksh Mahto, another farmer from Madhubani, was also worried about the rise in fuel prices.
“Cost of production has already increased due to upward trend in fuel prices and it is bound to increase more if fuel prices rise further.
The ploughing rates of tractors have increased by 40% from Rs 1,800-1,900 per acre last year to Rs 2,700 per acre this year, due to rise in fuel prices.
For cost-cutting, many farmers in the districts did not hire tractors for sowing of seed.
They just spread the seeds,” he said.
“From increasing fuel prices to labour cost, everything was just adding up in the input cost of the crop,” said Hari Prakash Choudhary, a farmer who hails from Patyeli in Samstipur.
“The total cost for cultivation of paddy crop has gone up to Rs 13,000 including use of machineries, fertilisers, seed, and cost of labour.
When it comes to selling the crops, we never get the right price.
I still have enough stock of wheat as I could not find a buyer.
The government has set the MSP of Rs 1,850 per quintal, however, I sold it at Rs 1,200 per quintal.
We are only facing loss,” he said.