Tangail growers expect better wheat yield as harvest begins

TANGAIL, Mar 24: Growers in the district have started wheat harvesting this season with the hope of a bumper production.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials said, "Earlier we set a target of producing 18,691 tonnes of wheat from 5,841 hectares of land in the district."

But finally some 3,677 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation of wheat in all the 12 upazilas of the district.

Sub- assistant agriculture officer of DAE Nargis Akhter said wheat cultivation is decreasing in the area as growers show more interest in maize production.

In the current season, maize cultivation exceeded yearly target more than double, the official added

According to the DAE, 'Prodip', Bijoy and BARI wheat-25, 26 and 27 are the most popular wheat varieties among the farmers.

Jamuna and Dhaleshwari riverbed and char areas in the district are well known for growing quality wheat every season.

Hasan Miah of Atia village under Delduar upazila said he cultivated wheat on 45 decimals of land this season.

The farmer further said he completed his harvest and achieved a bumper yield.

Traders' sources said newly-harvested wheat has started appearing at the local market and per maund wheat is sold at Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200.

Meanwhile, BSS adds: Scientists and researchers at an event in Rajshahi have urged the grassroots farmers to bring more lands under the cultivation of drought-tolerant and blast-resistant wheat variety in the region to boost the yield.

They said that substantial and sustainable boosting of both acreage and yield of wheat is very important for food security in the present water-stressed condition.

Promotion of BARI wheat-28 and BARI wheat-30, both are blast-resistant and drought-tolerant, can be the vital means of boosting yield of the cereal crop.

The scientists revealed this while addressing a farmers' field day and crop-cutting ceremony titled "Heat and Drought tolerant and Blast Resistant Wheat Variety Production in Drought-prone area" at Shahapur under Charghat upazila in the district on Saturday afternoon.

Regional Station of Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI) hosted the programme with financial support from the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (BARC).

More than 100 farmers both males and females joined the programme.

BARC Executive Chairman Dr Kabir Ikramul Haque addressed the meeting as the chief guest while its Member Director Dr Sheikh Boktier and Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension Shamsul Haque spoke as special guests with BWMRI Principal Scientific Officer Dr Ilias Hossain in the chair.

Senior Scientific Officers Dr Abdullah Al Mamun and Dr Khandaker Habibul Alam also spoke.