The fates of many farmers have changed through maize cultivation in Jibannagar upazila of Chuadanga. Maize farming has changed the face of rural economy in the district.
At one time, farming activities of local farmers was limited to only Iri-Boro and Aman paddy cultivation along with some conventional vegetables. But now the farmers are earning hundreds of thousands of Taka by cultivating maize in a modern way.
The success of maize cultivation has brought smiles on the faces of the farmers here. Maize farming has now become very popular among local farmers. More and more farmers are cultivating maize every year as they can make more profit with less capital in a short period of time from this crop.
Maize has been cultivated on a large area of land in the upazila this season. Jibannagar Upazila office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) is expecting record yield of maize this year, if there is no major natural calamity.
According to Jibannagar DAE Office, the target for maize cultivation was set at 5,300 hectares of land in the upazila this season. However, maize has been cultivated on 5,500 hectares of land crossing the target.
Farmers said, due to high price of maize last year, more farmers of the upazila have resorted to cultivating high yielding varieties of maize this year.
Abdar Hossain, a maize farmer from Andulbaria village in Jibannagar upazila, said he first started maize farming in the area about 17 years ago. In that year he sold maize produced on one Bigha of land at a cost of Tk 3,000 for about Tk 15,000. As a result, he increased the amount of land the following year. This year he has cultivated maize on 5 Bighas of land and hopes to sell the maize produced on that land for Tk 1.5 lakh.
He said that at the end of Bengali month Kartik (late autumn), the land is made suitable for maize cultivation by mowing the land and applying fertilizers. Seedlings germinate 10 to 15 days after sowing. After 6 months, maize is collected by cutting down trees from the land. 40 to 45 mounds of maize is produced on each Bigha of land.
From land preparation to maize collection, the cost per Bigha of land is Tk 10 to 15 thousand and the produced maize is sold for Tk 30,000 to 35,000. Excluding all the expenses, the profit per Bigha of land is about TK 15 to 20 thousand.
Samadul, a maize farmer from Uthali village said he earned about Tk 70,000 last year by cultivating maize on 3 Bighas of land, excluding all expenses. So, this time he has cultivated maize on 7.5 Bighas of land and expecting a bumper yield of corn if there is no major natural disaster.
Jibannagar Upazila Agriculture Officer Sharmin Akhter said maize is a major cash crop in the district. About two and a half lakh farmers are involved in maize farming in the district.
This year’s production target will be achieved as the weather is favorable. However, she added if the farmers could store their maize, it would be more profitable for them.