A super bumper production of maize is likely in northern Bangladesh during this current season as its harvest continues in full swing with excellent yield rate everywhere, official sources and farmers said.
According to the sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), maize output might cross the fixed production target this season as the farmers have brought 18,160 hectares more land under its cultivation in the region.
The farmers have finally cultivated the cereal crop on 1.90 lakh hectares land against the fixed target of farming the crop on about 1.72 lakh hectares to produce over 12.46 lakh tonnes of maize during this Rabi season in the region.
Talking to BSS, Horticulture Specialist of the DAE Khandker M Mesbahul Islam said maize cultivation has been increasing everywhere, including vast tracts of the sandy char areas, since 2003 for growing interests among the farmers and more profits.
Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said tens of hundreds of landless, small and marginal farmers have changed their fortune through expanded maize farming on the vast char areas and dried up riverbeds.
Noted agri-scientist and Associate Director -Agriculture of BRAC International (South Asia & Africa) Dr M A Mazid said there is a brighter prospect for increasing maize production further and the government has put due emphasis on the issue.
He stressed for enhancing cultivation of low-irrigation water consuming cereal crops like maize and wheat to reduce Boro farming in northern Bangladesh to ensure food security and improve environment, ecology and bio-diversity under changed climate.
Besides, maize contains huge Vitamin-A and its multi-dimensional use including production of corn oil with no cholesterol from maize can helps heart patients in many ways through consuming its oil as well, Dr Mazid added.
“Maize is highly beneficial to human health if consumed the flour prepared through crushing 70 percent wheat and 30 percent maize together”, he said citing various recognised international level scientific research findings and analyses.
BSS from Bhola adds: Bumper maize production has brought smile on the face of farmers of all the six upazilas in the district as they got fair price for the crop during the current season.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said, a total of 383 hectares of land were brought under maize cultivation in six upazilas of the district this year with the production target of 22,824 tonnes of maize.
Of the total land, 145 hectares were brought under the cultivation in Sadar upazila, 55 hectares in Burhanuddin upazila, 25 hectares in Doulatkhan upazila, 60 hectares in Tazumuddin upazila, 15 hectares in Lalmohan upazila and 83 hectares in Char Fession upazila.
DAE source said maize cultivation gained popularity here due to its easy cultivation process and chief labour cost.
A farmer can produce 20 to 25 mounds of maize on one bigha
of land by spending of Taka about 3,000 and can earn from the land Taka 7,000, the agriculture office sources said. Farmers Anisur Rahman and Abdul Kalam of village Baro Chorsamaia under Sadar upazila said “We are very happy with this year’s yield of maize and farming of the seasonal maize has changed our life.
Some growers said, many farmers in different villages of the district are now getting interested to yield maize on commercial basis instead of cultivating wheat, paddy or other crops, they added.
According to the market sources, the present price of maize is excellent and varies between Taka 500 and Taka 550 per maund (every 40 kg) making the farmers happier this region.
