MANIKGANJ, May 1, 2021 (BSS) – The cultivation of maize has been exceeding its target in all seven upazilas of the district every year as the farmers are interested to grow the crop on a large scale in their land for its better yield and price.
The farmers are getting maximum production and reasonable market prices of their products.
Cultivators of the district are expecting a bumper production of maize as the favourable weather condition was prevailing during the current season. They also got seeds, fertilizers and other inputs timely for cultivation of maize.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said the maize cultivators have been achieving bumper production for several years in the district.
The sources said maize cultivation is gaining popularity day by day in all seven upazilas of the district.
They said easy cultivation, less irrigation and much demand in the markets are the main causes of the popularity of maize cultivation.
The maize is sold in the market round the year and its green leaves are used as cattle fodder. The sticks of maize are also used as fire wood in the rural areas. The immature maize plants are also used as cattle fodder.
Manir uddin, one of the maize cultivators of Char Bailjuri village under Ghior upazila of the district said he had cultivated maize in five bighas of land this year.
He said “I will cultivate maize on the same land after reaping it.”
Most of the maize cultivators like Munir uddin cultivate maize twice on the same lands.
The maize has already started to be harvested. Now per maund of maize is being sold at Tk. 750-850 in the markets
DAE sources said the cultivation of maize also exceeded the target this year.
The target of cultivation of maize was fixed at 16,000 hectares of land during the Robi season in the district this year with a production target of 1, 57,320 metric tons.
Sources said 3850 hectares of land came under maize cultivation in Manikganj Sadar upazila, 1000 hectares in Singair upazila, 4,550 hectares in Saturia upazila, 1,600 hectares in Ghior upazila, 2,000 hectares in Daulatpur upazila, 650 hectares in Shibalaya upazila and 2,350 hectares in Harirampur Upazila.
DAE also set a target of cultivation of maize in the Kharif-1 season on 6500 hectares of land with a production target of 48,880 metric tons.
The cultivation of maize in Kharif-1 season is continuing in all seven upazilas of the district.