ZCZC
BSS-06
MAIZE-RANGPUR REGION (with picture)
Maize farming continues in full swing in Rangpur region
RANGPUR, Jan 8, 2021 (BSS) – Farmers are continuing sowing of maize seeds in full swing as tender plants of early varieties of crop are growing superbly predicting its bumper production in Rangpur agriculture region during this Rabi season.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers are expanding cultivation of the lees irrigation water consuming and profitable cash crop every year after getting repeated bumper output with lucrative price in recent years.
“Maize farming has become popular among farmers to improve their livelihoods by cutting poverty assisting them in achieving economic self-reliance in the last 12 years,” Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office here Md. Moniruzzaman told BSS.
The rapidly growing demand of maize in the flourishing poultry, diary and animal husbandry sectors and food industries is inspiring famers in expanding its cultivation as a cash crop to reap more profits.
The DAE has fixed a target of producing 10.51 lakh tonnes of maize from about 1.02 lakh hectares of land for all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat in Rangpur agriculture region this season.
“The farmers have already brought 85,785 hectares of land under its cultivation and they will continue sowing of its seeds till the next month,” Moniruzzaman said, hoping that farmers are expected to exceed the fixed farming of maize this season.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid foresighted more potentialities to further increase maize yield by bringing vast tracts of abandoned char lands in the riverine areas.
Cultivation of maize is expanding fast both on the main land and riverine sandy char areas improving the living standard of small and marginal farmers, landless char and riverside people during the last one era in the region.
“Along with the government’s incentives, many NGOs distributed high yielding varieties of maize seeds and inputs among landless, small and marginal farmers, especially in char areas, for further enhancing maize cultivation this season,” he said.
Like in the previous seasons, char people are cultivating maize on char lands on the Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dharla, Jamuna, Dudhkumar, Kartoa, Ghaghot, Atrai and other riverine areas in Rangpur division this season, he said.
Farmers Akram Hossain, Bahadur Ali, Mozammel Haque and Echhahaq Ali of Mominpur union in Rangpur Sadar said they have already completed sowing maize seeds and the tender plants are growing excellent.
Talking to BSS, Agriculturalist Dr Md Abdul Mazid, who got the Independence Medal-2018 (food security), suggested expanding cultivation of the low-irrigation water consuming maize crop to save huge underground water.
“Maize is largely being used as fodder of domestic animals and poultry birds in the country’s growing animal husbandry, poultry and food industries sectors consistently increasing its demand and prices in local markets,” he added.
BSS/SPL/MI/MMA/1222hrs