Rangpur farmers eye bumper maize output

OUR CORRESPONDENT

RANGPUR, Mar 08: Farmers expect to reap a good harvest of maize in five districts under Rangpur agriculture region, as the crop has grown excellently due to favourable weather this season.

According to sources, the farmers of the region are showing their interest in maize farming in recent years due to lower production costs as well as good yield.

They hope to get more profits from maize cultivation in the districts this year.

Official sources said the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has set a target to bring 117,043 hectares of land into maize cultivation in five districts of Rangpur region.

The districts are Rangpur, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat.

A good number of cultivators told The Financial Express that last year they sold maize at a satisfying rate of Tk 1,200-1,400 per maund.

This year they are expecting more dividends. At least 50-60 maunds of maize can be produced on per bigha of land, they said.

Around 25,000 is spent on maize cultivation per bigha of land. Maize cultivation is less toilsome than the cultivation of other crops, they added.

Ojiar Rahman, a maize cultivator of Thakurdas village of Kaunia upazila in Rangpur, told The Financial Express he cultivated maize on about 02 bighas of land this season.

He said he would have to spend around nearly Tk 40,000 on cultivating the crop. "I expect harvest of at least 110 to 120 maund of produce this season."

He also hoped to earn around Tk 140,000 from the sale of the crop after harvest.

He said last year he also earned good profits from maize farming which encouraged him to increase its cultivation area this year.

Akbar Ali, a grower of Charaikhola area in Nilphamari Sadar upazila, told The Financial Express that last year, he made satisfactory profits by cultivating maize. For this reason he increased the land by 2 bighas and cultivated corn on 4 bighas of land this year.

Maize farming has improved the financial condition of the peasants in the region, he said.

"I have been cultivating maize for the past 08 years. Maize farming is more lucrative than many other crops."

Hakim Mia, a maize grower in Laldighi area of Badarganj upazila in Rangpur, said, "Earlier I as well as many peasants of my area used to cultivate paddy. But due to less profit compared to production cost we started cultivating maize instead of paddy and began to get more profits."

He said, as their area is a little higher, the boro paddy fields need to be watered a lot, due to which the production cost is also higher.

Due to these reasons, they have reduced paddy cultivation and turned towards maize cultivation.

He said this year he cultivated maize on 3 bighas of land. The maize plants have grown well. "I hope to get an excellent yield and good profit from the sale of the crop this season."

Rangpur DAE Deputy Director Md Reaz Uddin Told The FE that farmers have been provided with seed and fertilisers as incentive this season to encourage them in cultivating maize.

Due to huge profits, many growers are showing their interest in maize cultivation. Farmers can grow maize with less cost and less effort, he further said.

Growers are given all kinds of advice and technical assistance so that they can achieve a bountiful yield of the crop, he added.

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