Foxtail millet cultivation drops in Gaibandha shoal areas

OUR CORRESPONDENT
GAIBANDHA, Apr 21: Cultivation of high yielding crops in Gaibandha has led to a decline in the farming of comparatively less profitable foxtail millet, or kaun rice -- a resilient and nutrient-rich staple grain grown in the shoal areas of the district.
Although the yield of the millet is satisfactory in the district, which has about 165 shoal areas, the price has not been good, over which the farmers have been giving up cultivation of the crop. A decade ago, the millet, popularly used in traditional cakes and puddings, was cultivated noticeably, but now farmers are opting for chilli, maize and pumpkin.
According to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Gaibandha, the millet has been cultivated on 115 hectares in seven out of four upazilas of the district this year. Of these, six hectares are in Gaibandha Sadar Upazila, three in Sundarganj Upazila, 34 in Saghata Upazila and 72 in Phulchari Upazila.
"Earlier we cultivated kaun. But, we did not earn money by cultivating kaun."
Md Rostam Ali, additional deputy director (horticulture), Gaibandha, said the district is surrounded by shoals and the millet is mainly cultivated in the shoals of Jamuna and Brahmaputra rivers. atik.mms2014@gmail.com