Over 38,510 hectares of land has been fixed to cultivate maize in the district this fiscal year of 2022-23 but in the meantime farmers have taken under maize cultivation on 36,043 hectares of land. The District Agriculture Extension Department (DAED) is hoping that target of maize cultivation may be exceeded this season.
According to DAED, in the meantime farmers have brought under maize cultivation on 13,350 hectares of land in sadar upazila, 5,857 hectares of land in Alamdanga upazila, 13,274 hectares of land in Damurhuda upazila and 3,562 hectares of land in Jibannagar upazila. After completing harvesting of early winter vegetables and amon paddy within short time farmers will begin to cultivate maize there. So an amount of land for maize cultivation will increase
According to sources, the farmers began to sow the seeds of maize during the month of September. Now it has become a saplings. Farmers are taking care of by putting irrigation, fertilizers and pesticide. So the saplings are growing very fast.
Arshed Ali of village Boalia in sadar upazila told the Bangladesh Post, harvesting of early winter vegetables will be completed within a week, then he will sow seeds of maize on that land.
Shihab Mollah of village Boalia in sadar upazila of the district said he cultivated maize on 5 bighas of land this robi season.
Chandon Mollik of village Majhhad in Alamdanga upazila of the district has cultivated 4 bighas of land at his village this fiscal year.
Akbar Ali of village Joyrampur in Damurhuda upazila of the district has brought under maize cultivation on 3 bighas of land.
Azharul Islam, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Damurhuda in the district said, farmers are very eager to cultivate maize in Damurhuda upazila. Most of the farmers are now using modern technology to cultivate the crop.
Shimul Parvez, another sub-assistant agriculture officer of Jibannagar upazila in the district stated, when the farmers of the upazila were sowing the seeds of maize in their prepared field, he advised them sowing process of maize. At present they are asking him about using of pesticide and fertilizers, as per requirement solution is given.
Bevash Chandra Saha, Deputy Director of DAED said all kinds of facilities are provided to the growers by the government as farmers of the district are very interested to cultivate maize. Besides they are satisfied for getting huge benefit from this cultivation.
He also stated, the growth of the maize is good. Officials of agriculture department have been monitoring, consulting and advising among farmers on maize cultivation. We expect a lot of maize production this season.