Demand for ‘thrasher machines’ produced in Natore and its surrounding upazilas has been increasing among the farmers of the country. After meeting local demands, the thrasher machines produced in Natore of greater Rajshahi are now being sold in other districts as well.
These thrasher machines are being manufactured at Natore for the last 20-25 years but, the manufacturer companies of the district are facing uncertainty in expanding their business due to insufficient supply of Babla (Acasia) wood, increased labour cost, lack of working capital and harassment in getting bank loan.
It is learnt, though the cast iron cylinder, bearing and some other materials used to make thrasher machines are procured from outside of the district, most other materials are collected locally. Many farmers also let the machine rent to earn money.
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There are 20-25 engineering workshops in the district which manufacture thrashing machines but seven of the workshops situated in Sadar Upazila of the district produced most of the machines.
Though there are some workshops at the upazila levels, those mainly repair the machines. The workshops usually produce 800 to 900 thrashing machines during harvesting season of paddy.
Concerned sources, however, informed despite having a good demand and quality, the manufacturers are failing to increase production due to lack of working capital.
The thrashing machines prepared using wood and iron structures are being sold from Tk 3,000 to 7,000 each depending on size and quality. The machines are driven through pedal or fixing it with a motor or pump machine.
Govinda Karmaker, proprietor of GK Engineering informed, he learnt making of the machine from engineer Narayan Babu some 20-year ago and established his own paddy thrashing machine making company since then. Six to seven more people also work in his company.
He said, he was failing to expand the industry for lack of working capital. If bank loan was provided for running the workshop, there would be opportunities of further expansion of the industry and more employments.
Ashraful Islam, proprietor of AR Engineering informed, the business at his company was dull this year due to untimely rain fall and Coronavirus menace.
Moreover, crisis of acasia wood and its increased price was the cause of an increased price of the machine. The wages of the labourers has also been increased and he needed to pay Tk 35,000 as salary to four of his artisans every month.
He mentioned, due to lack of working capital, the workshops were producing the machines by procuring loan from the NGOs at an exorbitant interest rate. If these industries were supplied bank loans at a low interest rate, they would be benefitted.
He also informed, the thrashing machines produced in the district are also sold in the surrounding districts of Rajshahi, Naogaon, Chapainwabganj, Sirajganj, Tangail and Dinajpur.
Aminul Islam, a farmer of Madhnagar village informed the thrashing machines are easy to operate and no cow or buffalo is required to drive the machine. Rather farmers can operate the machine using their legs or by fixing the machines with shallow machine.
Nizam Uddin, a farmer of Boraigram village informed, the straw left after thrashing paddy-plant by using costly automatic machine becomes unfit for consumption by the cows and buffalo but, the straw produced after using the locally produced thrasher machines remained intact and fit for consumption of the cattle heads and using those for other purposes.
He further said, he was happy by purchasing a thrashing machine at a cost of Taka 5,000 and by fixing it with the shallow machine, he would be able to thrash paddy at a low cost and labour.
