Farmers eyeing bumper wheat yield in Rajshahi
BSS :
Wheat cultivation has expanded across Rajshahi, including its vast Barind tract, with farmers expecting a promising yield this year. Favorable weather conditions, improved seed varieties and promotion of modern technologies increased wheat production in the region.
Jasim Uddin, 48, a wheat farmer of Pakuria village in Paba Upazila, has cultivated wheat on five bighas of land this season, investing approximately Taka 8,500 per bigha.
Talking to BSS here Tuesday, he hopes for a cherished yield and better money after selling those in markets if the weather goes well until the harvesting ends.
Similarly, Shafiqul Islam, 54, of Bargachhi village in the same upazila, has cultivated cash crops on 15 bighas, expecting an output of 15 maunds per bigha.
Local officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension provided suggestions to get more yield, he said.
Rafiqul Islam, another wheat farmer from Pukuria village under the same upazila told BSS that he got high-yielding wheat seeds and fertilizers free of cost from DAE. His cultivation expenses amounted to around Taka 8,000 per bigha, and he anticipates a yield of 15-20 maunds per bigha if weather conditions remain favorable.
Darul Hossain, 52, of Bhatupara village under Godagari Upazila, has cultivated wheat on four bighas of land and he’s happy with his present farming condition. “We are using less-irrigation for wheat farming compared to Boro paddy farming,” he said.
Farzana Tasnim, Upazila Agriculture Officer of Paba, reported that 2,015 hectares of land in the upazila have been brought under wheat cultivation this year.
She said 1,800 farmers were given seed and fertilizer free of cost in the upazila to inspire the farmers to grain crop cultivation. The incentives contributed a lot towards raising wheat cultivation. If the weather goes well the production target is expected to exceed.
Rafiqul Islam, a marginalized farmer of Fulbari village under Godagari upazila, said he is very happy after getting the incentives in time.
Wheat is profitable among other Rabi crops,” said Umme Shalma, Deputy Director of DAE, adding blast disease resistant and high yielding wheat seeds and fertilizer were given free of cost among the enlisted farmers to inspire them to the farming.
She added that need-based training and suggestions were given to the farmers to make their farming more profitable and sustainable. If the weather goes well there is a prospect of exceeding the production target.
Umme Salma said wheat has been cultivated on 93,867 hectares of land, setting a production target of 3.96 lakh tonnes in the district this year. In the previous year, around 3.89 lakh tonnes of wheat were produced from 92,842 hectares of land.