Char people gain from groundnut farming

JAMALPUR, May 20 (BSS): Groundnut farming in the shoals of the river Brahmaputra has made backward char people optimistic in Sadar Upazila of the district.

Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS), Jamalpur, under the 'variety development, seed production and post harvest technology development of groundnut project ' has brought over 100 acres of land belonging to 80 marginal and small farmers under groundnut farming at village Char Jatharthapur of the upazila.

Before groundnut farming, the RARS imparted training to the farmers on its cultivation and provided them with seeds and pesticides free of cost.

After training, each of the farmers got 15 kilograms groundnut seeds to cultivate on one bigha of land. Besides, they received technical assistance and were monitored by the RARS officials.

One of the beneficiary farmers Mozammel of the village said farmers have been cultivating groundnut on government Khas shoals of the river Brahmaputra for the last two years.

He said earlier no cash crops were grown on the land. But in this current season he has cultivated groundnut on 6.0 bighas of land and got 18 to 20 maund of groundnut per bigha.

He said as the groundnut has a great demand in the local markets, the wholesalers are also purchasing groundnut from them.

In the local market per maund of groundnut is being sold at Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,000 which is fair price, he added.

Principal Scientific Officer of the RARS Dr Manjurul Kader said groundnut cultivation is also playing a vital role in alleviating poverty in the area.

He said many char people who became victims of river erosion could reap financial benefit by cultivating groundnut in the char areas during dry season.