‘Rangbilas’ sugarcane cultivation expands in Baraigram
The cultivation of the red-hued ‘Rangbilas’ sugarcane in Baraigram Upazila of Natore has added a new dimension to local agriculture, opening new income opportunities for farmers.
Locals named it ‘Rangbilas’ (meaning ‘colourful delight’) because of the red colour of its stalks. It is sweet, has soft stalks that are easy to peel and chew, and sells for Tk 50 to Tk 70 per piece, making it more profitable than many other crops.
Farmers are showing increasing interest in cultivating the variety, with sugarcane fields expanding and bringing smiles to farmers’ faces. However, Red Rot disease remains a significant obstacle. Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Sajib Al Maruf said sugarcane has long been cultivated in Natore due to the presence of two sugar mills in the district.
Mahfuz Hossain, a sugarcane farmer from Mahishbhanga village, said, “I have been cultivating the Rangbilas variety on one bigha of land for the past two years. After preparing the land, one-foot-long seed cuttings (stalk segments) are planted in October-November, and the crop is harvested the following September-October.
“The plants grow to a height of 6 to 9 feet. They sell for an average of Tk 3,000 per hundred pieces, ranging from Tk 2,500 to Tk 3,500. Each bigha yields an average of 6,000 pieces, ranging from 5,500 to 6,500. The average sales revenue per bigha is Tk 1,80,000, against production costs of approximately Tk 70,000. This results in an annual income of over Tk 1 lakh per bigha.”
Consequently, farmers are becoming increasingly interested in Rangbilas cultivation. There is also strong market demand because the cane is easy to chew; even patients suffering from jaundice regularly purchase it.
As traders buy the sugarcane directly from the fields, farmers face minimal marketing hassle, leading to a steady increase in cultivation. Many farmers also generate additional income by cultivating garlic or onions as companion crops alongside sugarcane on the same land.
The cultivation of this sugarcane variety has also created seasonal employment opportunities.
Trading of the Rangbilas variety continues for about three months, during which traders purchase the cane from farmers and sell it in various locations.
There is potential for the variety to become a highly profitable crop for farmers in Baraigram in the future.
Sugarcane farmer Rubel Ali said cultivating the Rangbilas variety requires significant amounts of fertiliser, pesticides and irrigation. Maintenance activities such as earthing up the base, stripping leaves, spraying pesticides, preventing lodging and tying the stalks in bunches cost approximately Tk 65,000 to Tk 70,000 per bigha.
A major obstacle to its cultivation is Red Rot, a fungal disease. When a plant is infected the interior of the stalk and the leaves turn reddish. It is widely believed to be a fungal disease that spreads rapidly across fields through irrigation water.
However, the variety is highly susceptible to Red Rot, a fungal disease. According to the agriculture officer, infected plants should be promptly uprooted and removed from the field.
While varieties such as Ishurdi-36, 41, 43 and 44 are commonly grown in Baraigram, farmers have shown increasing interest in the Rangbilas variety over the past three to four years because of its higher yield and better market price.
In the current season, the variety has been cultivated on 51 hectares of land. Rangbilas stalks grow taller and thicker than the varieties developed at Ishurdi. The canes are not sold to mills; instead, they are traded at local markets and bazaars at high prices.
