Bumper maize production likely in Manikganj

Farmers of the district are expecting a bumper maize production as they have started harvesting of maize with excellent yield rate here during the current season, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) office sources said here today.

The cultivators of the district are expecting a bumper production of maize as the favourable weather was prevailing during the current season. They also received seeds, fertilizers and other inputs timely for its cultivation.

The cultivation of maize has already exceeded the target this year also. The target of cultivation of maize was fixed on 17,020 hectares of land with a production target of 1, 65,094 metric tons of maize in all seven upazilas of the district, the DAE sources said.

Finally, the farmers have cultivated maize on 17,032 hectares of land exceeding the fixed target of 17,020 hectares in the district.

The Department of Agriculture Extension 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. Specially, the lands of char areas are being cultivated maize in 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 popularity of maize cultivation, the sources added.

The multipurpose use of maize is also one of the reasons behind the maize cultivation. The maize is sold in the market round the year. The green leaves of maize are used as cattle fodder. The sticks of maize are also used as fire wood 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 on the same land.

The farmers are getting maximum production and reasonable prices of their products. Now the newly harvested maize has been appearing in the markets.

Last week when visiting the vast char areas of Harirampur, now the opposite side of the Padma, this correspondent found the early cultivated maize were being harvested. After harvesting the first maize the farmers would cultivate for the second time.

The Deputy Director of the DAE Abu Mohammad Enayet Ullah said cultivation of maize is gaining popularity in the district for its multipurpose uses and the demand of the crop round the year, reasonable prices of maize is also the main cause, he said adding that the harvesting of maize has already been started. (BSS)