Maize farmers set to have a big harvest

A vast maize field on the Karatoa river basin in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur. Eight districts under Rangpur division are expecting a bumper yield of the crop this season. PHOTO: STAR

Fortune has smiled on the maize farmers of eight districts in the division as they are set to have a big harvest this season.
Locals said, growers were became increasingly interested in cultivating the item in the region due to its fair prices and low production cost.
Particularly the small and marginal farmers of char (newly emerged landmass) areas in the river basin have cultivated the cash crop on their vast tract of land this season.
About 1,26,397 hectares of land have been brought under maize cultivation in the region this year and the production target has been set at 9,10,058 tons, said sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
The breakdown of expected harvest is 77400 tons of maize from 10,750 hectares of land in Rangpur district, 57,816 tons from 8,030 hectares in Gaibandha, 22,500 tons from 3,125 hectares in Kurigram, 1,42,632 tons from 19,810 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 45,180 tons from 6,275 hectares in Nilphamari, 3,27,917 tons from 45,544 hectares in Dinajpur, 1,22,688 tons from 17,040 hectares in Thakugaon and 49,788 tons from 6,915 hectares in Panchagarh.
Shajahan Mia, farmer of Kaunia upazila in Rangpur, told this correspondent that maize cultivation is gaining popularity in the recent years due to bumper yield and fair prices of the crop. Good weather is also a factor, he added.
“I have cultivated the crop on three acres of land, spending Tk 60,000 and I am expecting a profit of Tk 1,50,000,” said another farmer.
Md Sekendar Ali, additional director of DAE, Rangpur Division, said maize cultivation has become popular in the recent years in the districts due to its high yield and low production cost.
The demand for maize is increasing rapidly due to its increased use as poultry feed, fish feed and cattle feed, he said.