Mung bean seed crisis in two districts
Shortage of mung bean seeds threatens fulfilling of the target for mung bean cultivation in Patuakhali and Barguna.
Growers are facing serious crisis of seed as Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) failed to meet their demands. They have to buy seeds at Tk 140 to Tk 160 per kg, while BADC's rate is only Tk 58.
Md Gias Uddin, a mung bean grower of Ghopkhali village in Itbaria union under Patuakhali Sadar upazila, said he cultivated mung bean on two acres of land last year and also planned to cultivate it on three acres this year as it is very profitable.
He bought seeds from BADC last year as they were of good quality and high productivity, but BADC does not have seeds this year, he said.
“Finding no alternative, I bought 10 kg seeds from a local shop at Tk 150 per kg,” he added.
Md Rafiqul Islam of Badura village in Auliapur union said he also faced crisis of mung seed this year as BADC has no seeds. “I have been cultivating mug for 10 years as it is very profitable. I earned Tk about 50,000 last year,” he added.
Deputy Director (DD) of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in the district Md Nazrul Islam said they have set a target to cultivate mung bean on 75,000 hectares of land this year, while it was 72,300 hectares last year.
Around 2,070 tonnes of seeds would be needed to meet the target, nearly half of which is procured by the farmers from the market, he said.
Mung bean farming is very profitable in the coastal region for its suitable soil, favourable weather and cheap labour cost, the DD said.
Deputy Director of BADC (seeds) Md Asaduzzaman said they got only 3.470 tonnes from the centre, of which 1.2 tonnes were given to government's revenue project free of cost. The remaining 2.27 tonnes is not sufficient to meet the demand, he added.
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