Peanut farming benefits char people

BOGURA, May 05: Peanut cultivation on the Jamuna riverbed in the district has been gaining popularity among the farmers.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources, more than 160 landless grassroots farmers of Sariakandi, Sonatola and Dhunot upazilas have cultivated peanut on 250 bighas of land this season.
DAE officials said peasants make a handsome profit by growing peanut on the riverbed as they get good production and market price.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has taken a project to extend peanut cultivation in the district as the farmers of the district have shown more interest in its farming.
The Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) said farmers have been supplied with 100 kgs of BARI Chinabadam-8 seeds free of cost.
Besides, before peanut farming the RARS provided training to the farmers on peanut cultivation along with providing technical assistance and continued monitoring of the crop fields.
Abdus Sobhan, a farmer of Baishakhi char area under Dhunot upazila, said this year he cultivated groundnut on two bighas of land spending Tk 12,000.
The grower said he has completed his harvest recently and made a profit of Tk 30,000.
"Traders purchase peanut from farmers' homes as it has a great demand in local markets", said wholesaler Abul Kalam Azad under Sonatola upazila.
He also said, "Per maund of groundnut is selling at Tk 1,700 to Tk 1,900 in the local market."
Sub-assistant agriculture officer of DAE Faridur Rahman said a farmer can earn about Tk 20,000 to Tk 22,000 by cultivating peanut on one bigha of land.
Peanut cultivation is also playing a vital role in alleviating poverty in char area, he added.

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