Farmers cheerful for bumper maize output in Dinajpur

Maize growers in the district are expecting a bumper harvest as maize cultivation has already surpassed the target this year.

Mild winter conditions, along with optimal rainfall and suitable sunlight, are expected to significantly boost maize production across the 13 upazilas in the district. Farmers and agricultural experts are expecting over 43,000 tonnes more maize than the targeted yield.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) set a target to cultivate maize on 75,752 hectares of land in 13 upazilas. However, maize cultivation has exceeded this target, covering 79,402 hectares, said Assistant Director M. Nurul Huda of the DAE, Dinajpur.

Maize production is expected to surpass the target by 43,763.5 tonnes, with total production projected at 9.08 lakh tonnes across the district, the DAE official added.

Farmers are also anticipating higher earnings from maize sales this year. Last year, raw maize was sold for Tk 900-1,000 per maund, while dry maize was sold at Tk 1,200-1,400 per maund.

“Short cultivation duration and high returns have encouraged farmers to adopt maize cultivation on a larger scale of land,” said Shamsur Rahman Jinna, a farmer from Ghoraghat upazila.

Besides, several gristmills have been established in the district over the past five years, significantly increasing the demand for raw maize at these mills, according to DAE sources.

The DAE has motivated farmers to cultivate maize on fallow and uncultivable land by providing incentives.

Under the government incentives, each farmer has received two kilograms of maize seeds, 20 kilograms of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), and 10 kilograms of Muriate of Potash (MoP). So far, 12,500 farmers have benefitted from these facilities, enabling them to grow maize on their land. (BSS)