A new success story has been written in sugarcane cultivation in Kaharol upazila of Dinajpur district this year.
A total of three farms, including the Kanta Sugarcane Farm under Sechik, have achieved bumper sugarcane yields this year. Not only that, farmers are getting double profit by cultivating other vegetables such as chilli, cauliflower, cabbage, tomato and others as companion crops along with sugarcane, which has brought a new momentum to the local economy.
According to information received from Kaharol Upazila Agriculture Office, sugarcane has been cultivated on a total of 500 acres of land in various farms including Kanta under Sechik. Improved varieties of sugarcane like 45,46 DSRI-44,45,46,48 and Ishwardi-37,39 are being cultivated.
According to farmers, it costs about 30 thousand taka to cultivate akh per bigha of land, where akh is sold for about 80 to 90 thousand taka. In addition, an additional 50 to 60 thousand taka is earned by selling companion crops like cauliflower or tomato.
Cost of cultivating akh per bigha: 30,000 taka
Total income from selling akh and companion crops: 1,30,000 to 1,50,000 taka Net profit (per bigha): 1,00,000 to 1,20,000 taka! Sadarpur farmer Hannan said that he is getting good profit by cultivating cauliflower and cabbage as companion crops along with akh by taking a lease on sugar mill land. He is getting money from two crops in one land.
Despite the good yield, farmers are now very worried. Many farmers in the area, including farmers Mizanur Rahman, Hasan Ali, Jasimuddin, Hiralal Sarkar, said that due to the closure of the Setabganj Sugar Mill, the Kanta Ikshu Farm has to supply the sugarcane to the Thakurgaon Sugar Mill. They are not able to continue the cultivation work properly due to the lack of timely capital.
Sugarcane production is good, the yield is good, and there is profit, but due to the closure of the mill, they are losing interest in sugarcane cultivation. Setabganj Sugar Mill should be opened soon!
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mallika Rani Sehanbish said that farmers are now becoming interested in sugarcane cultivation through the use of modern agricultural technology, vegetable cultivation as a companion crop, and training provided by the Agriculture Office.
Managing Director of Sechik Md. Abul Bashar expressed hope that if the mill remains operational, the amount of sugarcane cultivation will increase further next year. He emphasized that sugarcane cultivation is very important not only for farmers but also for the country's sugar industry.
