RANGPUR, Aug 20, 2019 (BSS) – The farmers have produced 19,461 tonnes of
groundnut breaking all previous records during the last Rabi season and just-
ended Kharip-1 season this year in Rangpur agriculture region.
Official of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said production
of groundnut (19,461 tonnes) this year in higher by 2,911 tonnes than
production of 16,550 tonnes of the cash crop in both seasons last year in the
region.
District Marketing Officer for Rangpur Agriculturist ASM Hassan Sarwar said
excellent price of groundnut between Taka 3,000 to Taka 3,200 per mound
(every 40 kg) in local markets now has made farmers happier bringing smile to
their faces.
Talking to BSS, Horticulture Specialist of DAE at its regional office
Agriculturist Khondker Md. Mesbahul Islam said a target of producing 9,325
tonnes of groundnut from 5,298 hectares of land was fixed for the region
during the last Rabi season.
Similarly, the DAE had fixed a target of producing 6,940 tonnes of
groundnut from 4,082 hectares of land for the region during the Kharip-1
season.
“However, farmers produced 11,850 tonnes of groundnut from 5,697 hectares
of land during the last Rabi season while 7,611 tonnes of the crop from 4,527
hectares of land during the Kharip-1 season this year in all five district of
the region,” Islam added.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh
Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid said a farmer can earn Taka 45,000 by producing
24 to 27 mounds of groundnut per acre of land spending Taka 18,000 as farming
costs.
“Around 5,000 farmers, mostly of char areas, have achieved self-reliance
by cultivating groundnut twice annually on char lands with assistance of the
government and NGOs improving their living standard,” Mamunur added.
Groundnut trader Mokhlesur Rahman at Rangpur City Bazar Market said farmer
are selling their just-harvested groundnut in last Kharip-1 season to
wholesalers at rates between Taka 3,000 and 3,200 per mound depending on
varieties and qualities.
Wholesale trader at Rangpur City Bazaar Market Sohel Rana said they are
currently selling groundnut at rates between Taka 3,200 and 3,400 per mound
to retailers after purchasing the same from farmers at rural areas and local
markers.
Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Muhammad Ali said farmers
are achieving outstanding groundnut yield following expanded cultivation of
its high yielding varieties evolved by Bangladesh Agriculture Research
Institute (BARI).
“With increasing demand of groundnut in Bakery and other food industries
and export of the products, farmers are expanding groundnut cultivation on
main lands and char areas after getting repeated bumper output with lucrative
price,” he said.
The char people and common farmers are reaping better profits from
groundnut farming in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Nilphamari
of the region for lower farming cost and excellent market price in last one
decade.
Farmers of Char Biswanath, Char Prannath, Dhushmara Char, Paschim Mohipur,
Char Dakshin Kharibari, Char Khuniagachh, Char Gidari in and other char
villages in different districts of Rangpur region termed groundnut farming as
a highly profitable venture.
Farmers Azmal Hossain, Mahbub Alam, Abdur Razzaque, Rezaul Islam, Moslem
Uddin, Momen Ali, Abdus Sattar and many others of these char villages said
they have changed fortune by farming groundnut on char lands in last ten
years.