Farmers in Rangpur have produced thousands of tons of pulses. Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, May 16, 2025 (BSS) - During the just-ended 2024-2025 Rabi season, farmers have produced 3,908 tonnes of six varieties of pulses in all five districts of Rangpur agriculture region.
 
After getting a better yield, farmers are happy to get good prices for all varieties of pulses produced this time.

Earlier, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) had fixed a target of producing 4,353 tonnes of six varieties of pulses from 2,923 hectares of land for the region this time.
 
"However, farmers finally brought 2,697 hectares of land under pulse cultivation, less by 1,656 hectares against the fixed farming target," said Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Shafikul Islam.
 
Due to crop diversification and the cultivation of maize, chillies and vegetables on more land across the region, the specific cultivation target for pulses could not be achieved.
 
The fixed target included production of 1,760 tonnes of lentil from 1,193 hectares of land, 2,093 tonnes of 'Khesari' from 1,369 hectares, 47 tonnes of 'Arhar' from 34 hectares, 52 tonnes of gram from 42 hectares, 372 tonnes mungbean from 269 hectares and 29 tonnes of cowpea from 16 hectares of land.
 
However, farmers finally cultivated lentil on 1,122 hectares of land, 'Khesari' on 1,249 hectares, 'Arhar' on 99 hectares, gram on 34 hectares, mungbean on 168 hectares and cowpea on 25 hectares of land in the region.
 
After completing harvest recently, farmers produced a total of 2,697 tonnes of pulses this time against the fixed production of 4,353 tonnes of these varieties of pulses during the just-ended Rabi season. 
 
The produced pulses include 1,626 tonnes of lentil, 1,786 tonnes of 'Khesari', 166 tonnes of 'Arhar', 72 tonnes of gram, 214 tonnes mungbean and 44 tonnes of cowpea this time.
 
"The DAE and other organisations provided training, technologies and inputs to farmers to make the pulse farming program a success," Islam said. 
 
Deputy Director at Burirhat Horticulture Centre in Rangpur of the DAE Dr Md Abu Sayem said that there is potential to increase pulse production in this region through proper crop diversification and adoption of a relay-system of crop cultivation.

"For this, special emphasis should be placed on exploring the possibility of increasing pulse production through adoption of latest agricultural technologies and use of high-yielding varieties of seeds," he said.
 
He especially stressed on adoption of the mixed, relay and intercropping methods to increase farming of pulses with other crops in all seasons for enhancing production to attain self-reliance on pulses.
 
Grocery shop proprietor Mizanur Rahman at Rangpur City Bazar today told BSS that they are selling newly harvested lentil at Taka 135 per kg, 'Khesari' at Taka 110 per kg, Mungbean at taka 170 per kg, cowpea at Taka 160 per kg, gram at Taka 120 per kg and 'Arhar' at Taka 380 per kg.
 
Talking to BSS, farmers Abul Hossain, Muhammad Abdus Sattar, Bakul Mia and Nurul Islam of different villages in Rangpur said they are happy after getting a better production of different varieties of pulses and lucrative prices in local markets.