Farmers of the country’s northern region are gradually increasing maze cultivation in their fields as they obtained bumper production and fairly profitable price from the crop in recent years. A survey of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) revealed that Chuadanga, Dinajpur, Bogura and Lalmonirhat - these four districts have become the main maize cultivation area of the country.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), farmers of Rangpur district exceeded its maize farming target by 11.12% last year. DAE officials said that farmers are showing more interest in expanding maize cultivation after getting repeated bumper production with excellent price in recent years. Agriculture researcher Professor Ikramul Haque said farmers of Dinajpur, Bogura and Lalmonirhat are more interested in growing maize because of its low production cost and chance of good profit.
Deputy director of DAE Md Moniruzzaman said, “The DAE has put emphasis on extending cultivation of the crops that consume less irrigation water like maize, which will help the poor to overcome poverty.” The government has provided seed, fertilizer and technical assistance to 1,650 small and marginal farmers of Rangpur region for extending cultivation of maize on two bighas of land each to further boosting its production this season, Md. Moniruzzaman added. Agriculturist Mahfuzur Rahman suggested that maize can help in improving the nutritional status of the rural people. Production of maize can increase the income and employment opportunities of the farmers due to its diversified uses.
Lack of capital and high price of fertilizer are the main constraints to its production, on the contrary, he added. Maize, also known as corn, is a cereal grain. Maize has become a staple food in many parts of the world, with the total production of maize surpassing that of wheat or rice. However, little of this maize is consumed directly by humans; most of it used for corn ethanol, animal feed and other maize products, such as corn starch and corn syrup.