Landless cultivators happy over bumper yield of sesame
Our Correspondent | Wednesday, 20 December 2017
BOGRA, Dec 19: Hundreds of landless sesame peasants of Jamuna basin under Sonatola upazila of Bogra district are seen happy over bumper yield of the crops in this current season with assistance of authority concern.
Sub-assistance agriculture officer of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Faridur Rahman said, the farmers of the upazila have brought over 450 hectares of land under the lucrative short duration crops cultivation aiming financial self-reliant.
The farmers of the upazila had planted the quality seed provided by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) with bearable price last September to October. The farmers of the basin area have started harvesting the crops from the last few days.
"I have cultivated sesame on 4 bighas of land spending Tk 12,000 and got around 24 mound of yield," said farmer Zahidul Islam, 45, at Tekanychukainagar village under Sonatola upazila of the district. "I have made over Tk 24,000 as profit from the crops paying production cost."
"The farmers can harvest the crops after 80 to 90 days of its cultivation if the weather condition remains favourable," said upazila agriculture officer Salauddin. He also said, "The peasants are getting a good production in this year due to favourable weather condition and timely supply of necessary agri-input."
In a recent visit the correspondent found each Kg of fresh sesame is being sold from Tk 65 to 70 in this retail market while Tk 55 to 60 in the wholesale markets. The wholesalers of the different haats are purchasing the crops from the peasant directly to supply Dhaka mitigating local demand.
Farmer Enamul Haque, 23, at Pakulla village under Sonatola upazila said, he has cultivated the crops on 7 bighas of land in this season and he has already harvested some five bighas. He is expecting to make a good profit if the price remains high till January.
Departmental head of liver and digestion Maksudul Islam said, sesame contains a big amount of protein which helps us to keep the body in a sound health. It has also good taste to eat, he added.