Borhanuddin (Bhola) Correspondent :
The bumper yield of sugarcane has put smiles on the faces of the farmers in Borhanuddin Upazila. The favorable weather conditions and relatively less insect attacks have madev the better production. Farmers are happy as market prices are also satisfactory. However, as the middlemen sold the sugarcane fields to the wholesalers, a larger share of the profit went into the pockets of the wholesalers than the farmers. Farmers claimed that if they got government sponsorship in selling sugarcane, their profits would have been higher and other farmers would also be interested in sugarcane cultivation.
According to Upazila Agriculture Office, about 6 thousand May in 130 hectares of land Tones of sugarcane cultivation target have been targeted. Sugarcane has been cultivated in 132 hectares of land beyond that target. Sugarcane production target of 46 MT per hectare has been exceeded.
Farmers say the previous yield was better than ever due to favorable weather and proper management. However, if additional pesticides were not applied to prevent insect attack, the profit would have been 1,000 to 2,000 taka more for every 4 percent.
Although sugarcane is cultivated in all areas of the upazila, most of it is produced in Baramanika and Kutuba Unions of the upazila. Barga farmer Ishaq of Ward No. 3 of Baramanika Union, Md. Rashed, Khorshed Alam, Abdul Malek and Kamal Hossain said that the field department of Bangladesh Sugar Crop Research Institute provided training 3 years ago in addition to providing color luxury and nectar seed sugarcane. Besides, they collected and cultivated sugarcane of CO-208 variety and Bombay-208 variety.
Sugar cane farmer Ishaq said that he spent 57 thousand taka by cultivating sugarcane on 52 percent of the land. He sold the entire field for 1 lakh 65 thousand taka. Md. Reshad Ali cultivated sugarcane in 56 percent and spent 85 thousand taka. Sold 1 lakh 75 thousand taka. Both Abdul Malek and Kamal Hossain spent 90 thousand taka by cultivating 60 percent and sold it for 1 lakh 80 thousand taka.
Hossain Molla, a sugarcane farmer of Chotamanika village of ward number six of Kutuba Union, spent 70 thousand taka on 40 percent of his land, and his sales fell to Tk 1.20 lakh.
The farmers also said that the people of the agriculture office helped them with various suggestions. Farmers also said that apart from the sale of sugarcane, if every 8 hundred sugarcane is transported from the field, they get an additional income of 2 thousand taka.
Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Baramanika Union Mizanur Rahman Roni said that all assistance has been provided from the side of the sugarcane farmers.
Upazila Agriculture Officer H.M Shamim said that there is less risk in sugarcane farming, less capital but more profit. Besides, multiple partners can be harvested with it up to a stage. At present, efforts are being made to promote the cultivation of chewing sugarcane.
