Rangpur region eyes 0.81m tonnes of maize production

RANGPUR, Dec 23 (BSS): The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing over0. 81 million tonnes of maize from 92,705 hectares of land in all the five districts under Rangpur agriculture region during the current Rabi season.

Officials in the DAE said the enthusiastic farmers have so far brought 53,813 hectares of land or 58.05 per cent of the targeted land area under maize cultivation as sowing seed continues in full swing now in the region.

Talking to the news agency on Saturday, horticulture specialist of DAE Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said farmers are showing keen interest in maize cultivation after getting repeated bumper productions with lucrative price in recent years.

He said maize cultivation is increasing every year as the char people are farming the crop in more land after earning huge profits to cut poverty and lead better life through farming the crop in their sandy and barren char lands in recent years.

"The farmers have already sowed maize seed in 5,503 hectares of land in Rangpur, 9,800 hectares in Gaibandha, 6,120 hectares in Kurigram, 21,855 hectares in Lalmonirhat and 10,505 hectares in Lalmonirhat districts under the region," Mesbahul added.

Deputy Director of DAE Md Moniruzzaman said the fixed target for maize farming might be exceeded in the region as the farmers are bringing more and more land under farming of the profitable cereal crop this time.

Dinajpur Hub Coordinator of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center Agronomist Anarul Haque said farmers are growing maize on a vast tract of land as being encouraged by various government incentives.

He put emphasis on popularising cultivation of low-irrigation water consuming cereal crops like maize to gradually reduce Boro farming for saving huge underground water to ensure food security side by side with improving environment.

Regional Additional Director of DAE Md Shah Alam said maize cultivation has already become popular among the farmers and poorer section people of both mainland and char areas also improving their livelihoods.