The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Mymensingh has taken up a massive programme of rabi crops cultivation this year.

The rabi crops included wheat, maize, potato, mustard, onion, garlic and ginger.

According to DAE sources, wheat will be cultivated on 16000 hectares of land, with a production target of 36000 metric tons (MTs) of wheat in all 12 upazilas of the district this year.

The DAE sources said, 1200 hectares of land will be brought under wheat cultivation with a production target of 2700 MTs of wheat in Sadar upazila, 1500 hectares in Muktagachha with a production target of 3375 MTs, 2500 hectares in Phulbaria with a production target of 5625 MTs, 1000 hectares in Trishal with a target of 2250 MTs, 800 hectares in Bhabluka with a target of 1800 MTs, 1000 hectares in Gafargoan with a production target of 2250 MTs, 2250 hectares in Nandail with a production target of 5625 MTs, 1000 hectares in Ishwarganj with a target of 2250, 800 hectares in Gouripur with a production target of 1800 MTs, 1500 hectares in Phulpur with a target of 3375 MTs, 1400 hectares in Haluaghat with a production target of 3150 MTs while 800 hectares in Dhubaura upazila with a production target of 1800 MTs of wheat.

According to DAE officials, 6000 hectares of land will be brought under cultivation of mustard with a production target of 4800 MTs, 900 hectares for maize cultivation aiming at a production of 4050 MTs, 500 hectares of land for potato cultivation fixing a production target of 3500 MTs, 1000 hectares for sweet potato cultivation targeting a production of 10,000 MTs, 500 hectares for ground nut cultivation with a target of producing 750 MTs, Musur on 600 hectares with a production target of 432 MTs, onion on 1000 hectares of land with a production target of 8500 MTs, 800 hectares for garlic fixing a production target of 4800 MTs, chili on 4000 hectares with a target of production of 8000 MTs, ginger on 500 hectares with a target of 3500 MTs, turmeric on 800 hectares with a target of 6400 MTs.

However, DAE has so far distributed 8,18,000 saplings of different varieties against its target 8,73,307 in the ongoing season of tree plantation this year. Of them, 6,20,000 are saplings of fruits bearing trees while 31,000 are herbal sapling, added DAE sources.