Groundnut cultivation gaining popularity in Panchagarh

Groundnut cultivation is gaining popularity
among the farmers in all five upazilas of the district recently as soil and
weather condition are very suitable here for its
cultivation.

This year, farmers of the district and the DAE are happy over the bumper
groundnut yielding and its fair price. They have started harvesting of
groundnuts from their respective lands with much enthusiasm.

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) office said a total of 11,435
hectares of land have been brought under groundnut cultivation this year with
the production target of 20,870 tonnes.

“Farmers of the district have cultivated the high yielding groundnut on more
lands as they get a lucrative price of their harvested crop,” the sources
said, adding that per mound of groundnut is being sold at Taka 4,000 to Taka
4,200 in the local markets now.

Sukumar Roy, a farmer of Sabouspara village under Debiganj upazila here,
said: “last year, I have cultivated groundnut on my two bighas of land at a
cost of only Taka 13,000. I have earned Taka 27,000 by selling those in the
local markets after meeting all the expenditure.”

He said: “I have cultivated groundnut on my four bighas of land and I am
expecting Taka 50,000 more from its production this year.”

Another farmer Sunil Kumar of the aforesaid village said: “I have been
getting good profit through cultivating groundnut on commercial basis for
three years.”

Deputy Director of the DAE Md, Rias Uddin told BSS that they provided quality
seeds and fertilizers among the farmers at free of cost. The farmers of the
district are showing great interest in cultivating groundnut because the high
land is good for groundnut cultivation and land of the district is
comparatively higher than other districts, he added.

Besides, the DAE has also provided training to the farmers for boosting the
production and the commercial banks including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank
have given short-term easy loans to the farmers for cultivating groundnut on
their land, the DAE official mentioned. (BSS)