RANGPUR, Apr 16: Harvesting of maize is going on across five districts in Rangpur agriculture region during this current season.
At the initial stage of harvest the growers are satisfied with the good yield as the plants have grown well owing to congenial climatic condition. But its low prices in markets have disheartened them.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Rangpur official sources, around 85,180 hectares of land were brought under the maize cultivation this year in the region. The districts are Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat.
Talking to this FE correspondent a number of growers expressed their dissatisfaction over plummeting price of the crop in markets.
Presently, the crop is being sold at Tk 400 to Tk 430 per maund (40kg) which is not satisfactory to the growers. Farmers also hoped that its price would go up within next month. Many farmers are yet to sell their produce to make profit later.
Moktar Ali, a maize grower of Nabdiganj village under Pirgachha upazila in Rangpur district told FE that he cultivated the crop on three bighas of land and the condition of its growth is satisfactory. Adequate water supply, agri-inputs and congenial weather condition favoured maize cultivation this year. But he expressed disappointment over low price of the produce.
Nazrul Mia, another maize cultivator at Char Nazirdaho village at Kawnia upazila in Rangpur district said that he cultivated the crop on one acre of land this season. Around 70 to 80 maunds of maize can be harvested from one acre of land spending Tk 16,000 to Tk 17,000, he added.
This year the crop has been cultivated in the mainland as well as in char areas of the region, as many landless and river eroded people have also brought char lands under maize farming this year, sources said.
DAE Rangpur official sources said that smooth supply of water and agri-inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides boosted maize cultivation in the region which made the farmers hopeful about getting a bumper production of this crop during the current season.
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