Record maize produced in Rangpur

Farmers are happy getting an all-time record output of 12,65,796 tonnes of maize exceeding the fixed production target by 8.13 per cent during the just-ended 2022-2023 Rabi season in Rangpur agriculture region.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers completed the maize harvest last week and produced 12,65,796 tonnes of the crop at the average yield rate of 11.1425 tonnes per hectare of land.

The produced 12,65,796 tonnes of maize this season is higher by 1,17,653 tonnes or 10.25 per cent against the production of 11,48,143 tonnes of the crop during the previous 2021-2022 Rabi season.

Outstanding output with a better market price of maize has made farmers cheerful both in the mainland and riverine char areas in all five districts across the region.

Market sources said farmers are selling harvested maize to local traders and wholesalers at rates between Tk 1,000 and Tk 1,050 per mound (every 40 kg) although the rates ranged between Tk 1,150 and Tk 1,250 a month ago.

Earlier, the DAE had fixed a target of producing 11,70,696 tonnes of maize from 1,08,065 hectares of land for all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat in the region this season.

“Enthusiastic farmers finally brought 1,13,600 hectares of land under maize cultivation, exceeding the fixed farming target by 5,535 hectares of land or 5.12 per cent,” Additional Director of DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md. Aftab Hossain said.

Constantly growing demand for maize in the poultry, dairy, animal husbandry and food industry sectors along with its repeated bumper production and lucrative market price is inspiring farmers to further expand its cultivation.

To enhance maize cultivation and production, the government provided incentives in terms of high-yielding varieties of seeds and fertilisers and the latest technologies to small, marginal and flood-hit farmers this season.

Farmers Habibur Rahman and Dulal Mian of different villages in Rangpur said they already completed the maize harvest and sold the produce at rates between Tk 1,000 and 1,050 per mound to reap better profits.

Farmer Shahinur Islam of Char Purbo Mohipur in Gangachara upazila here said he cultivated maize on two acres of the dried-up beds of the river Teesta this season.

“I got a bumper maize harvest and earned a huge profit by selling the produce,” he said.

Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Agriculturist Md. Obaidur Rahman Mondal said maize cultivation is persistently expanding on both the mainland and riverine char areas in the region during the last 14 years.

“Repetitive bumper production with a rewarding price of maize is inspiring farmers in expanding its cultivation to earn huge profits and improve livelihoods in the region even during the global crises caused by the Russia-Ukraine War,” Mondal said.

Independence Medal-2018 (food security) awardee Agriculturalist Dr Md Abdul Mazid stressed expanding cultivation of low-irrigation water-consuming crops like maize to save water and boost food output amid changing climate.

“Farmers are earning high profits from farming maize and getting rewarding market prices as demand for the cash crop continues to increase in the thriving animal husbandry, poultry and food industry sectors across the country,” Dr Mazid added.