ZCZC
BSS-11
MAIZE-CULTIVATION (with picture)
Maize cultivation target exceeds in Rangpur region
RANGPUR, Jan 10, 2019 (BSS) – The farmers are expecting a bumper
production of maize already exceeding its fixed cultivation target by 2.39
percent in Rangpur agriculture region during the current Rabi season.
Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said maize
cultivation is increasing every year as the farmers are showing interest in
expanding its farming after getting repeated bumper production with excellent
market price in recent years.
Horticulture Specialist of the DAE at its regional office here Khondker Md
Mesbahul Islam said maize cultivation is contributing to cut poverty
improving livelihoods of the poor assisting them in achieving self-reliance.
The DAE has fixed a target of producing about 7.58 lakh tonnes of maize
from 83,192 hectares of land in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and
Lalmonirhat districts under Rangpur agriculture region this season.
“However, the farmers have already brought 85,180 hectares of land, 2.39
percent higher than the fixed target of maize cultivation as sowing of seed
of the cereal crop still continues in the region,” Islam added.
Along with farmers in the main land, the char and riverside people are also
expanding maize farming on their sandy and barren char lands after getting
better profits to change fortune in recent years through farming the cash
crop.
Like in the previous seasons, the char and riverside people have cultivated
maize on the vast tracts of the dried-up riverbeds and shoals of the
Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dharla, Jamuna, Dudhkumar, Atrai, Kartoa, Ghaghot and
other tributaries this time.
Talking to BSS, Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS
Bangladesh Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid said there are potentialities to
increase maize output by bringing the huge abandoned char lands on the
Brahmaputra basin.
Side by side with government’s incentives, many NGOs distributed huge
quantities of high yielding varieties of maize seed and inputs among the
landless, small and marginal farmers under various programmes for enhancing
its cultivation this season.
“Maize farming has become more profitable than many other crops encouraging
the farmers in cultivating the cereal crop on more lands using conservation
agriculture (CA) technologies for better output at reduced costs,” Rashid
said.
Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office Md Moniruzzaman said the
government has put emphasis on expanding cultivation of lees irrigation water
consuming maize crop that helps the poor in cutting poverty to achieve self-
reliance.
He highly appreciated the government for taking various initiatives for
further boosting maize production on way to attain sustainability in food
production.
“Expanded cultivation of low-irrigation water consuming cereal crop of
maize using CA technologies can save huge ground water, ensure food security
and improve environment amid changing climate,” Moniruzzaman added.
Agriculturist Dr Md Abdul Mazid, who got the Independence Award 2018
Medal (in food security category) last year, said maize contains huge
Vitamin-A and consumption of corn oil from maize with no cholesterol could
help heart patients in many ways.
He suggested the farmers for expanding cultivation of lees irrigation
water consuming maize using CA-based technologies to get better yield at
reduced costs to earn more profits for becoming self-reliant.
BSS/SPL/MI/MR/ 1510 hrs