Real experiences, published anonymously and with permission.
A woman potato farmer in Munshiganj, in a Prothom Alo report
Agriculture & farmingMunshiganj
After her husband's stroke she took on about 350,000 taka of debt to grow potatoes on 3.2 acres. Production and storage cost 26-28 taka a kilo, while the wholesale price at the cold store fell to 8.
A gerbera grower in Jashore, in a Business Standard Bangla report
Agriculture & farmingJashore
Gerbera under shade on two bighas at Panisara, Jashore. The election and referendum kept the Godkhali market shut for most of February, leaving only 7-9 February to trade; 7,000 unsold flowers alone cost about a lakh taka.
A former layer-farm owner in Kishoreganj, in a Samakal report
Agriculture & farmingKishoreganj
A 300-bird layer farm gave 290 eggs a day at 10 taka each, about 2,900 taka of daily income. Bird flu killed 100 hens; he sold the remaining 200 and closed, putting the loss at about a lakh taka.
A turkey farmer in Sreepur, Gazipur, in a Business Standard Bangla report
Agriculture & farmingGazipur
The farm opened in early 2019 with about 250,000 taka and 70 chicks, selling 40-50 hatching eggs a week at 400 taka a dozen. The only buyers were people starting turkey farms, and it closed in February 2020.
A cattle farmer in Taraganj, Rangpur, in a Prothom Alo report
Agriculture & farmingRangpur
Over two years this one bull ate more than 200,000 taka of bought feed and still costs 500-600 taka a day. It did not sell at the Eid haat.
A young shrimp farmer in Bagerhat, in a Dhaka Post report
Agriculture & farmingBagerhat
He started shrimp farming on 60 decimals in 2017 while still studying. The first year made a profit, which went straight into a second gher; fish prices then fell, feed prices rose, and three straight years of losses followed.
A biofloc fish farmer in Thakurgaon, in a Dhaka Post report
Agriculture & farmingThakurgaon
Two tanks, tarpaulin, fingerlings and electrical gear cost about 400,000 taka. Two stocking rounds took 180,000 taka of fish, and only 60,000 taka worth was ever sold.
An award-winning fish and livestock farmer in Ishwardi, Pabna, in a Prothom Alo report
Agriculture & farmingPabna
This farmer, decorated with national awards in 2010 and 2011, ran over 50 bighas of fish ponds, 200 cattle and 5,000 chickens. Caught in bank loans from 2012, he now has 11 cases against him and his house and farm are up for auction.
A small workshop owner in Narayanganj
Light manufacturing & workshopNarayanganj
We took a 5,000-bag corporate order, could not pay the workers and shut the workshop for two months.
A first-time entrepreneur in Rajshahi
Food processingRajshahi
I never measured the monsoon humidity. Mould took 400 kg of mango while the dryer loan was unpaid.
