GAIBANDHA, June 04: Arum (mukhikchur) cultivation has started to increase in different places of the district every year as both weather and land are favourable for its bumper production here.
Farmers expect a bumper production of mukhikchur this season in Gaibandha, which is a hub of crop production in the country.
'Bilati' and local varieties of mukhikchur, which has a demand in market, grow well in the district.
Due to the low cost of arum (mukhikchur) cultivation, many farmers have adopted its cultivation commercially. Mukhikchur cultivation is increasing in seven upazilas of the district due to a low production cost and good profits.
Farmers are getting interested in paddy cultivation day by day as it is almost five times more profitable than paddy cultivation. Turmeric requires very little care.
Its cultivation is also less risky. That's why, farmers are benefiting by cultivating early mukhikchu without risk at a low cost.
Farmers spend about Tk 7,000 on farming arum on a bigha of land and get a profit of Tk 35,000 within a production time of 3-4 months. So, local farmers are inclined towards arum cultivation.
Besides, it also does not require pesticides. Cows and goats do not eat the saplings and do not require any labour to look after them. Farmers can plant arum on land and sell it in relatively less time.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Gaibandha, 248 hectares has been brought into mukhikchur cultivation in seven upazilas of the district. Last year, it was 191 hectares.
Farmers have said 50-60 maunds of arum is produced on a bigha of land.
Nazrul Islam, a farmer of Kumargari village of Manoharpur union of Palashbari upazila, said this year we have planted mukhikchur and expect a fair price of the produce.
Khorshed Alam, deputy director of the Gaibandha DAE, said this year arum has been cultivated on 248 hectares of land in the district.
Among them are Bari and indigenous varieties of kachu. Our agriculture department is taking interest in mukhikchu cultivation through field day under Kandal development project. Farmers are advised to cultivate high yielding kachu.
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