Bumper wheat output in Rangpur

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RANGPUR, April 19, 2017 (BSS) – A bumper wheat output has been achieved in Rangpur agriculture region this year further brightening prospect in the agro-economy as well as food security amid changing climate.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, the farmers have produced 89 thousand and 699 tonnes of wheat, higher by five thousand and 837 tonnes or 6.96 per cent than the fixed target of production 83 thousand 862 tonnes this time.

The farmers had finally cultivated wheat on 26,673 hectares of land, only 379 hectares less than the fixed target of bringing 27,052 hectares under farming in the region during the just ended Rabi season.

However, the farmers had exceeded the fixed production target by cultivating high yielding wheat varieties on more lands this year to achieve bumper production of the less irrigation water consuming cereal crop.

“Expanded cultivation of high yielding wheat varieties helped the farmers to achieve production 3.36 tonnes average per hectare against the target 3.10 tonnes per hectare leading to bumper production,” said Horticulture Specialist of DAE Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam.

The farmers had mostly cultivated high yielding wheat varieties like ‘Bijoy’, ‘Pradip’, ‘Sotabdhi’, BARI Gom25, BARI Gom26, BARI Gom27, BARI Gom28 and BARI Gom29 this time on their lands, he added.

Talking to BSS, Extension Agronomist Anarul Haque at Dinajpur Hub of International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center expressed satisfaction over bumper wheat output this year and predicted brighter prospect of the crop in future in the region.

“The bumper wheat production was achieved by the farmers following expanded cultivation of high yielding, disease-resistant, stress- and high temperature- tolerant wheat seeds and conservation agriculture technologies,” he added.

Deputy Director of the DAE SM Ashraf Ali said wheat production had been affected in the past due to impacts of high temperature on its farming and delayed sowing of seed after late harvesting Aman paddy, use of low quality local variety seeds and other reasons.

“However, the farmers are sowing high yielding, quality, disease resistant and stress tolerant variety wheat seeds timely using the latest, mechanised and low cost technologies after harvesting the short duration Aman rice to get bumper production,” Ashraf said.

Expressing satisfaction over bumper wheat production, Regional Additional Director of the DAE Shah Alam suggested the farmers for further expanding cultivation of the less irrigation water consuming cereal crops like wheat to ensure food security amid changing climate.