Spike in maize price a boon for farmers
Cultivation of maize, also known as corn, has emerged to be very lucrative for more than 50,000 farmers of Lalmonirhat district as the price of the crop has doubled this year.
Last year, each maund (40 kg) of maize was sold at Tk 650-700 but this year it is being sold at Tk 1,200-1,250. Due to the hike in the price of maize in the international market, the farmers are reaping the benefit.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Lalmonirhat, maize has been cultivated on more than 36,000 hectares of land in five upazilas of the district this year. Last year, the crop was cultivated on 32,500 hectares of land.
Over 50,000 farmers of the district are involved in maize cultivation. Production of around four lakh 32 thousand tonnes of maize have been projected in the district this year.
However, the farmers said that this year the yield has been slightly lower than that of last year.
Farmer Fazu Mia of Bhotmari area in Kaliganj upazila said that he cultivated maize on one acre of land at a cost of Tk 50,000 and got a yield of 102 maunds. Each maund of maize was sold at Tk 1,230 directly from the field and he got Tk 1.26 lakh.
Last year, he got 125 maunds of maize from the same land and sold it at Tk 670 each maund, said Fazu.
Nazrul Islam, a farmer from Saniajan village in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat, said that he could not even imagine that he would get such a high price of maize.
"Last year, I cultivated maize on one and a half acres of land and this year I have cultivated it on two acres of land. I have earned Tk 1.7 lakh this year by selling the crop," he said.
Suresh Chandra Sen, a grower from Baura village in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat, said that maize cultivation has changed their fortune. He has been cultivating maize for the last 20 years. At first, the yield of maize was not as expected. But now, the hybrid variety of maize is giving them the expected yield.
"I have been cultivating maize on 12 bighas of land for the last few years. I have been able to bring prosperity to my family by cultivating maize," he said, adding that "Maize traders pay us in advance. We are benefiting a lot as the price of maize has doubled this year."
Shah Alam, a maize trader in Lalmonirhat town, said he had given money to 500 farmers in advance to get the crop. He has been buying maize from the farmers directly from the fields.
Shamim Ashraf, deputy director of DAE in Lalmonirhat, said the soil in the district is suitable for maize cultivation. Farmers are getting desired yield of maize. The Department of Agriculture is assisting the farmers in cultivating maize.
He added that around 50,000 farmers of the district are benefiting from maize cultivation. The land of maize cultivation is increasing over time.
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