High sugarcane yield delights growers

Bumper sugarcane production has brought smile to farmers in the district.

The sugarcane growers are very happy as they got good yield of the crop than last year due to favourable weather and absence of attacks by pests and diseases.

The prices, however, are a little low this year than the previous year but the sellers and the buyers are happy over the good supply.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Tangail, sugarcane has been cultivated on 786 hectares of land in ten upazilas out of 12 upazilas this year while it was cultivated on 559 hectares of land in nine upazilas last year. The production was 26,405 tonnes in 2018. 

Of 786 hectares, 285 are in Sadar, 280 hectares in Nagarpur, 63 hectares in Delduar, 55 hectares in Bhuapur, 32 hectares in Mirzapur, 30 hectares in Kalihati, 16 hectares in Ghatail, 12 hectares in Gopalpur, 11 hectares in Madhupur and two hectares in Basail upazila. 

Though sugarcane cultivation demands hard labour, local farmers became interested in cultivating it due to higher profit than other crops, including jute, said a DAE official.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found farmers harvesting sugarcane in the fields at Dharerbari, Krishnapur, Baghil and Tablapara villages of Sadar upazila.

Farmer Rafiqul Islam of Dharerbari village said he has cultivated sugarcane on one bigha of land spending Tk 40,000 to Tk 45,000.

“The yield is looking better than last year and I hope I can sale my sugarcane for Tk 85,000 to Tk 90,000,” he said.

Abdul Khalek, a sugarcane farmer of Krishnapur village, alleged that he does not get any support from the local agricultural department.

Refuting the allegation, Abdur Razzak, deputy director of DAE in Tangail, said they have provided different supports including training to the local sugarcane farmers. 

The local farmers are showing more interest in sugarcane cultivation due to fair price, he said.

A sugarcane wholesaler, Abdus Salam Hero, said he has been engaged in sugarcane business for the last three decades.

“I buy sugarcane from local farmers and sell those to different places in the country, including Dhaka,” he said.

 “This year, I have bought per sugarcane at Tk 8 to Tk 16 and I hope I can sell the sugarcane at higher prices,” he added.