Bumper wheat production likely in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, Jan 18: Farmers and others concerned, including agriculturists, are very much optimistic about wheat production in the region during the current season.
The farmers of nine upazilas here are passing very busy time in taking care of wheat plants in their respective fields. They are expecting a bumper production as they have planted newly-invented six species of wheat in this year.
Among the nine upazilas, Godagari upazila farmers have brought more lands under the wheat cultivation applying strip-method this year.  
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) of the district, around 26,841 hectors of land have been brought under wheat cultivation across the nine upazilas of the district in the current year with the production target of ten maunds from per bigha land.
Farmers got nine maunds from per bigha land in the previous year, the sources added.  
While talking to The Daily Observer, farmers said that they are going to achieve a bumper production this season thanks to favourable weather condition; besides, timely plantation of the crop is being considered as a positive sign for attaining bumper production.
KJM Abdul Awal, additional director of the DAE said wide-range promotion of the newly innovated varieties helped increase wheat yield.
The wheat production depends on chilly weather and the climate is very favourable in this year.
He also opined that there is no alternative to promoting modern technology and using high yielding wheat seeds to reduce dependency on food import to meet the internal demand.
Wheat plays an important role to ensure food security as its consumption is increasing day by day. There has been a bright prospect of bringing the huge land under wheat cultivation, he added.
While talking with The Daily Observer, Agriculture Officer of Pakri Block Jalal Uddin said, "The farmers have experimentally started strip-method in wheat cultivation at Pakri and Rajabari blocks under Godagari upazila here recently.
In strip method, farmers can get bumper wheat production with little cost. It is a very easy and systematic method and helps to maintain soil fertility."
This method was invented by the researchers of Australia, and now it is being used by Bangladeshi, Bhutanese and Indian farmers, he informed.
 Alauddin, a wheat grower of Pakri Block said, "This method requires only Tk 3,000 for per bigha of wheat cultivation. After applying this method, a farmer can get 10 to 12 maunds of wheat from per bigha of land. Now, per maund of wheat is being sold at Tk 800 to 1,000 in local markets."
He further said, "I cultivated Bari-26 variety of wheat in four bighas of land applying this method in this season. The wheat plants have grown very well. I am expecting a bumper yield."
Ansar Ali, wheat grower of Durgapur upazila said that he cultivated around five bighas of land in this year. Now he is passing very busy time in harvesting wheat in the fields with hired-labourers.
He has expended Tk 5,000 for per bigha of cultivation. He would get 10 maunds of wheat from per bigha of land in the current year, he also hopped.
Ilias Hossain, regional wheat researcher of Rajshahi, said that they have supplied newly invented six varieties of wheat seeds like Bari-25 to 30 in this current year. These varieties are very suitable as they can also grow well amid hot weather in vast Barind Tract.
Meanwhile, he visited different upazilas of the district and found the well growth of wheat plants. Farmers did not any have problems in cultivating new varieties.  For this reason, the farmers here are going to achieve a bumper wheat production in the current year, he added.