Farmers expecting bumper maize yield in Manikganj

Farmers are expecting a bumper maize production as its harvest continues with an excellent yield rate in the district during the current season, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) office said.

Cultivators of the district are expecting a bumper production of maize as favourable weather was prevailing during the current season. They also got seeds, fertilisers and other inputs timely for the cultivation of maize.

The cultivation of maize exceeded the target this year also. The target of cultivation of maize was fixed on 16,000 hectares of land with a production target of 1,52,000 tonnes of maize in all seven upazilas of the district, the DAE sources said.

Finally, farmers cultivated maize on 17,020 hectares of land exceeding the fixed target of 16,000 hectares in the district.

DAE sources said the maize cultivators have been achieving bumper production for several years in the district.

Maize cultivation is gaining popularity day by day in all seven upazilas of the district. The target of cultivation has been exceeding every year in the area. Especially, the lands of char areas are being cultivated maize on a large scale which was uncultivated previously.

Maize is now one of the highest cultivated cash crops in the district. The easy cultivation process, less irrigation and much demand in the markets is the main cause of the popularity of maize cultivation, the sources added.

The multipurpose use of maize is also one of the reasons behind maize cultivation. The maize is sold in the market around the year. The green leaves of maize are used as cattle fodder. The sticks of maize are also used as firewood in the rural areas.

Mohammad Ali, one of the maize cultivators of Shridharnagar village under Ghior upazila, said he has cultivated maize on five bighas of land this year. After harvesting the first time cultivated maize he is willing to cultivate maize on the same land for the second time.

Most of the maize cultivators like Mohammad Ali cultivate maize twice in the same land.

0The farmers are getting maximum production and reasonable market prices for their products. Now each mound of maize is being sold at Tk 1100 to 1200 in the market.