Adamdighi (Bogura) Correspondent :
In Adamdighi Upazila of Bogura, which is known as the food bank of the northern district, the interest of farmers is increasing day by day in almond cultivation along with other crops. A bumper crop of almonds is likely this year due to the favorable climate for almond cultivation. Almond cultivation is increasing in this region due to low cost and high profit. Meanwhile, the farmers are inclined to cultivate almonds due to the good price of almonds.
According to the sources of Adamdighi Upazila Agriculture Department, groundnut yield is better in high and riverine areas. As compared to other crops, almond cultivation does not require much labor. Pesticides are less of a problem as there are fewer diseases in almonds. A good yield can be obtained only by spraying fungicides several times to get good yield. Due to the good price of almonds in the market, the farmers here are leaning towards almond cultivation for the last few years. It is known that several farmers of six unions and one municipality of the upazila have cultivated almonds in their land this season. However, due to sandy soil in Chatiangram union of the upazila, almond cultivation has been better in this union than in other unions. As the price and yield of almonds are good every year, the farmers of the area are focusing on almond cultivation along with paddy cultivation. If any natural calamity strikes during the peak season, rice and other crops are damaged. But almonds do not suffer much. More than two tons of nuts are produced per hectare.
After harvesting the seedlings, the farmers took the opportunity to start cultivating almonds along with other crops. Abdur Rahim of Kesharta village of the upazila said, I cultivated almonds with 15th century land. Earlier, rice was cultivated in these lands. Now I am cultivating almonds along with paddy.
The amount of almond trees seen in the land indicates that a good yield will be obtained. Farmer Abdur Rahim also said that almond cultivation is increasing in this upazila, if high yielding almond seeds, chemical fertilizers, and other materials are provided to the farmers by the government at the right time, there will be a bright possibility of almond cultivation like rice.
Jamrul, a farmer of the same village, Moin Uddin, said that they have been cultivating almonds for several years and have got good yields. It is a good crop with low cost and low effort. Seeing their profit, other farmers are also interested in almond cultivation. Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Mithu Chandra Adhikari said that because of low cost and low effort, more profit has been made in the upazila compared to other years. Due to the favorable weather, there has been a good yield of almonds this time. In this regard, the head of Rajshahi fruit research institute. When I spoke to Alim Uddin on the phone, he said that almonds are a nutritious crop. He said that in order to increase the interest of marginal farmers in almond cultivation at the field level, high yielding varieties of almond seeds will be provided to the farmers in the future.