Farmers in Rajshahi district has achieved bumper yield of maize this year. Due to the good demand of maize in market, the farmers are also getting good prices and they are turning to maize as it is cheaper to cultivate and more profitable. The agriculture department is looking at the possibility of doubling maize cultivation in future due to the yield and good prices.
Farmers said raw maize is being sold at Tk 900 and dry maize at Tk 1100 to 1300 this season. All in all they are happy.
According to Rajshahi District Agriculture Extension Department, farmers have cultivated maize on 16,593 hectares of land under nine upazilas of the district and two police stations of the metropolis. The production target of which is 1,47,646 metric tons. High yielding maize varieties NH-7720, NK-940, Super Sign-2740 and M Gold-900 are high on the list of farmers.
The maximum amount of maize has been planted in Bagmara Upazila this year. The production target of maize in 3,711 hectares of land has been fixed at 34311 metric tons. Besides, 3,380 hectares have been planted in Puthia Upazila. The production target has been fixed at 2832 MT, Department of Agricultural Extension added.
The production target of 3,305 hectares of land in Godagari has been fixed at 34,127 MT. The production target of 2,220 hectares of land in Paba has been fixed at 15,642 MT. The production target of 1,886 hectares of land at Charaghat is 16,265 metric tons. The production target of 952 hectares of land in Bagha has been fixed at 10,140 MT. The production target of 817 hectares of land in Durgapur has been fixed at 7,264 metric tons.
The production target of 1,304 MT on 173 hectares of land in Mohanpur has been fixed. The production target of 306 metric tons has been fixed on 32 hectares of land in Tanore. Besides, the production target of 174 metric tons on 26 hectares of land in Boalia thana area of the city and 81 metric tons on 11 hectares of land in Motihar has been set.
Rajshahi District Agriculture Extension Department deputy director Mozdar Hossain said the yield and demand of maize are both good. Therefore, the cultivation of the crop is increasing day by day.
