Field after field of Ishwardi upazila in Pabna is filled with golden-colored wheat. When one looks at the wheat fields, it looks like a gold-plated area. Due to favorable weather and proper supervision of agriculture department, wheat has been planted in Ishwardi as expected and the yield is satisfying. The wheat harvest is in full swing in the area.
According to the Ishwardi Upazila Agriculture Extension Department office, wheat has been planted in 19.50 hectares of land in Ishwardi Upazila and municipal areas this season, despite the target of 19 hectares. Due to favorable weather and provision of good and high yielding seeds among the farmers, the yield per hectare has been as expected. Agriculture department officials say farmers are inclined to cultivate wheat as it is profitable. This time 30, 32 and 33 varieties of wheat have been planted in Ishwardi. Wheat cultivation is more in Sahapur and Salimpur unions of the upazila.
Moktar Hossain, a farmer from Arambaria Gopalpur area of Sandra Union of the upazila, said that wheat seeds were sown in the land in early December after harvesting paddy. This time Moktar Hossain has planted wheat in his two bighas of land. Wheat harvesting begins in early April. But this time wheat has been harvested with combine harvester. Muktar Hossain said that since he got the seeds from the agriculture department for free, the cost of irrigation, fertilizer and all other things was Tk 3,000. He got 32 maunds of wheat from two bighas of land.
The market price of wheat from 2 bigha land is 35 thousand TK. Muktar Hossain has earned 32 thousand Tk. He is very happy about this.Zahid Hasan Hirak, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of the Upazila Agriculture Office, said that the cost of wheat farmer Moktar Hossain has been reduced this time as he harvested, threshed and sacked wheat with a combine harvester. Ishwardi Upazila Additional Agriculture Officer Mahmuda Motmainna said wheat cultivation is increasing in Ishwardi due to good prices. This time wheat has been planted in 19.50 hectares of land in Ishwardi. The target was 19 hectares. Bari 30, 32 and 33 varieties of wheat have been planted in Ishwardi.
Wheat has been planted in 18.50 hectares of land at 3.75 metric tons per hectare and 7.50 metric tons this time. He said that the seeds of these varieties have been provided to the wheat farmers free of cost through field exhibitions. Apart from this, farmers are advised on overall issues including fertilizers and pesticides.
Due to favorable weather conditions, this year's harvest in Ishwardi has been as expected.