Mashkalai growers eye bumper yield

Mashkalai growers are now waiting for harvesting a bumper production in different districts, including Magura and Gaibandha, this season.

Our correspondent from Magura says that favourable weather, government incentive and quality seeds have made mashkalai growers optimistic about achieving a bumper production. They find mashkalai as a lucrative crop.

Sources at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Magura said they have brought 49 hectares of land into mashkalai cultivation in the district this season. They expect a bumper production of 68 tonnes of mashkalai.

Rathindranath Roy, a Mashkalai grower of Razarampur village under Magura Sadar upazila, said "This year I have brought my one bigha of land into Mashkalai cultivation. I expect a bumper production."

Another farmer Golapdi Biswas of village Nanduali under Magura Sadar Upazila, said, "I have brought my 02 bigha of land into Mashkalai cultivation this season."

"As there was adequate rainfall this season I have no cost for irrigation. Moreover, due to rainfall our mashkalai land was completely free from pest attacks. Moreover, we have got seeds from DAE at free of cost. All these have sent a wave of joy among the mashkalai growers in this district."

Another farmer, Millat shaekh of village Gobarnada under Mohammadpur upazila of Magura said, "I have brought 3 bigha of land into Mashkalai cultivation this season. Quality seeds provided by the DAE and adequate rainfall have come as a boon for our Mashkalai. I am expecting Tk 75,000 by selling my mashkalai.

When contacted, agriculturist Shafiqur Rahman, executive director Palli Prokriti (an NGO) said Bangladesh import huge amount of pulse every year spending a lot of foreign currency. Magura holds a bright prospect in Mashkalai production.

Cultivation of mashkalai has stood at 49 hectares in the district from 36 hectares last year as the growers are finding its cultivation lucrative.

The government can save a lot of foreign currency by increasing Mashkalai cultivation through providing growers with more incentive and training facility.

When contacted, DAE deputy director Dr Md Yashin Ali, said, "We have provided mashkalai growers with quality and free seeds. Moreover, the weather was favourable for mashkalai production."

"We are always advising growers. All these have made us optimistic about achieving a bumper production."

Our Gaibandha correspondent reports that farmers expect a better yield of mashkalai this season than other seasons in this district.

According to the DAE, 617 hectares of land have been brought into mashkalai farming this season in this district, an increase by 95 hectares than last year's.

Among them, 42 hectares are in Gaibandha Sadar Upazila, 245 hectares in Phulchari, 69 hectares in Saghata, 30 hectares in Sadullapur, 54 hectares in Palashbari, 10 hectares in Sundarganj, 167 hectares in Gobindaganj.

Mashkalai is also cultivated as a companion crop among various crops. Cultivation of Mashkalai does not require much care or cost.

Therefore, the farmers of Gaibandha are dreaming of a bumper yield at a low cost and for more profit.

A few farmers, including Azgar Ali of Gobindaganj Upazila of Gaibandha, told the Financial Express that they cultivate mashkalai as an additional crop.

This crop does not require much maintenance. And with less cost comes more income. So, we have been cultivating mashkalai since many years.

Md Khorshed Alam, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Gaibandha, told the FE that 617 hectares of mashkalai has been cultivated in this district, an increase by 95 hectares than last year's.

Due to heavy rain and upstream water, mashkalai on 07 hectares of land has been damaged in this district.

Listed farmers have already sent proposals for providing support to the affected farmers.

"We hope we can provide seeds and fertilisers to these farmers," Mr Alam said.

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