In Nagarpur Upazilaof Tangail, planters are dreaming of making a huge profit-gain by planting cotton fibers this season while every year the cotton producers face losses. This year the government has provided incentives to the farmers. Farmers are also optimistic about the bumper yield of cotton this year due to favourable environment, proper care and quality seeds.
Cotton plantation has started in Dakshin Pukhuria village of PakutiaUnion under NagarpurUpazilaof Tangail this year through government initiative with various incentives. The Department of Cotton Development has primarily set a target of cultivating more than 3 tonnes of cotton per hectareof land.
Immediately after the seeding, the planters used to fall into misery due to floods and heavy rains. This year, it was possible to avoid the damage as a result of the necessary advice and cooperation from the government. Usuallyplanters plant cotton in the Bengali month of Shravan (monsoon). But this year, it was planted at the end of monsoon and in the Bengali month of Falgun-Chaitra (spring) the crops are being harvested.
By experience, planters said that many people have lost money by cultivating cotton before. But this year, due to government facilities, it has been possible to take proper care of cotton. Cotton farmer Rabiul Islam said, “We have started cotton cultivation this year. The yield has been much better. He added, I have cultivated cotton on my 55 decimal land but it has been a success even after sufferingfrom some damage due to fog. While talking about prices, the farmers said that the price of cotton needs to be increased further.
Enayet Hossain, Cotton Unit Officer of Pakutia under Cotton Development Board,Pakutia Unit of Dhaka Zone, said if there is no natural or other kinds of calamitiesthey are expecting bumper cotton yield in the upazila. The government is trying to increase cotton plantation and cooperate with the planters extensively. The raw material for the thousands of garment industries in our country is cotton which has created exclusive demand for the cotton. Even if cotton is planted in all the land in our country, the demand for cotton will not be met at all. So, they are making the farmers interested in cotton cultivation through offering partnerships.
“This unit at Nagarpur targeted to bring 248 hectares of land under cotton farming this year, out of which 220 hectares have been cultivated. This year, despite the damage caused by floods and fog, the yield is better marked compared to other crops. We hope this year, about 3 tonnes of cotton will be produced per hectare.
As a result, the total cotton production by this unit will be around 660 tonnes. The government will take steps to procure cotton so that the farmers get a fair price for the cotton they produced. As cotton cultivation is more profitable than other crops, the farmers of this region are becoming interested in farming cotton. If cotton cultivation is expanded in the whole district with the help of government incentives, the dependence on cotton imports will be reduced a lot”, the official added.