RANGPUR, Aug 24, 2018 (BSS) – The farmers produced 16,550 tonnes of
groundnut during the last Rabi season and just-ended Kharip-1 season in all
five districts under Rangpur agriculture region this year.
Official of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said the farmers
produced a record quantity of 10,336 tonnes of groundnut from 5,298 hectares
of land during the last Rabi season and 6,214 tonnes of the crop during the
just-ended Kharip-1 season.
Horticulture Specialist of the DAE at its regional office Khondker Md
Mesbahul Islam today told BSS that a target of producing 5,512 tonnes of
groundnut from 3,445 heaters of land was fixed for Rangpur agriculture region
during the last Rabi season.
“However, the farmers produced a 10,336 tonnes of groundnut by cultivating
the crop on 5,298 hectares of land exceeding the fixed cultivation target by
1,853 hectares of land during the last Rabi season in the region,” he said.
Again, the farmers produced 6,214 tonnes of groundnut by cultivating the
crop on 3,652 hectares of land against the fixed production target of 7,003
tonnes of groundnut from 4,460 hectares of land during the just-ended Kharip-
1 season in the region.
Regional Farm Broadcasting Officer of Agriculture Information Service Abu
Sayem said the farmers achieved excellent groundnut production following
expanded cultivation of its high yielding varieties evolved by Bangladesh
Agriculture Research Institute (BARI).
“Groundnut cultivation has become highly profitable and the farmers are
expanding its farming everywhere including vast char areas after getting
repeated bumper output with lucrative price following huge demand in local
markets,” Sayem added.
Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office Md Moniruzzaman said the
common farmers and char people are expanding groundnut cultivation in all
five districts of the region because of lower farming cost and excellent
market price.
“The farmers are getting 1.35 to 1.95 tonnes of groundnut yield per
hectare following cultivation of the BRRI-evolved high yielding varieties of
groundnut allover Rangpur agriculture region,” Moniruzzaman added.
He said, “A farmer earns a net profit of Taka 30,000 to 40,000 by
producing 22 to 25 mounds (every 40 kg) of groundnut per acre of land during
both Rabi and Kharip-1 seasons excluding the farming costs of Taka 14,000 to
15,000 on an average.”
Groundnut traders Mokhlesur Rahman and Mohammad Sohel at Rangpur City
Bazar said the newly produced groundnut was being sold at lucrative rates
between Taka 2,000 and 2,100 per mound in wholesale markets.
Farmer Abdul Kader of Tepamadhupur village, char people Mukul Mian, Bakul
Mian and Moshiar Rahman of Char Biswanath village in Kawnia upazila of
Rangpur said they have changed his fortune by farming groundnut on char
lands.
Similarly, char people Ruhul Amin and Amir Ali of the same village said
they have achieved self-reliance by cultivating groundnut on riverine char
lands in recent years bringing well-being to their families.