High yield, fair price make growers happy

Lalmonirhat farmers are happy as they are getting ample production of maize and its fair prices in the local market this year.

Farmers said they are taking up maize farming due to less expenditure and high profit.

Jalil Miah, a farmer at Islampur village of Patgram upazila, said he cultivated maize on 15 bighas of land this year, and got 260 maunds from 10 bighas. "I have sold 100 maunds at Tk 420 per maund in the field, and I am expecting to get 130 to 140 maunds more from the rest five bighas," he said.

Seher Ali, another farmer of the same village, said they spend Tk 3,000 to Tk 4,000 for growing maize on one bigha of land, and can earn Tk 10,000 to Tk 12,000. Labour cost is low and not much care is needed for farming maize, he added.

Farmer Noor Hossain of Fakirpara village at Hatibandha upazila said maize is really a profitable crop for them as they are not earning expected profit from paddy farming. A farmer can produce 24 to 32 maunds of maize on one bigha of land, and also enjoy market facility, he added.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said about 25,000 hectares of lands were used for cultivation of maize at five upazilas in the district this year, but target was only 15,000 hectares.

Safayet Hossain, deputy director of DAE, said farmers are happy getting bumper production of maize due to favourable weather, good seeds and timely supply of fertliser, diesel fuel and other agriculture inputs. Farmers are also earning expected profit in the local markets, he added.