Pulse harvesting field. Photo BSS

By Md Aynal Haque 

RAJSHAHI, Dec 13, 2025 (BSS) - Around 1.02 lakh tonnes of pulses are expected to be produced in all eight districts of Rajshahi division during the current Rabi season, officials said. 

Various types of pulses, including black gram, lentil, grass-pea, chickpea, peas (motorshuti), winter mung bean and pigeon-pea, are likely to be produced from around 79,386 hectares of land. 

The target has been set to produce 55,280 tonnes of pulses from 37,753 hectares in four districts of the Rajshahi Agricultural Zone, and 41,633 tonnes from 57,599 hectares in four districts of the Bogura Agricultural Zone. 

Specifically, 52,386 tonnes of lentils are targeted from 30,311 hectares, 43,057 tonnes of black gram from 39,501 hectares, and 5,028 tonnes of grass-pea from 3,315 hectares. In addition, 5,058 tonnes of peas are expected from 3,335 hectares, 103 tonnes of pigeon-pea from 101 hectares, and 127 tonnes of winter mung bean from 100 hectares. 

Abdul Wadud, Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said all possible measures have been adopted to meet the existing demand for pulses by achieving the production targets. 

He said growers are showing more interest in lentil cultivation as it requires minimal irrigation and has yielded abundant production in recent years. 

Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Atanu Sarker told BSS that farmers have been achieving better yields of cash crops over the last couple of years due to the promotion of high-yielding varieties and modern crop management practices. 

Government and non-government organisations are encouraging cultivation of water-saving crops, including pulses, in the Barind area to reduce mounting pressure on underground water resources. 

Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) Principal Scientific Officer Dr Shakhawat Hossain said that large pulse output is possible in the Barind region if around 80,000 hectares of land, usually left fallow for more than three months after the Aman paddy harvest, is cultivated. 

He added that special emphasis is being given to promoting the high-yielding, zinc- and iron-enriched variety BARI Masur-8 across the region to meet rising demand for pulses. The variety contains 27.8 percent protein. 

Dr Hossain said zinc is an essential micronutrient for maintaining physical health. Zinc deficiency in mothers can disrupt fetal development and may lead to complications at birth. In children, it can hinder physical and intellectual growth. 

Farmers in the high Barind areas face high irrigation costs for paddy, whereas lentil cultivation requires minimal water, making it an attractive alternative. Lentil cultivation also enriches soil fertility, as chemical nitrogen fertiliser is not required and the crop leaves behind nitrogen for the next season. 

Farmer Amzad Hossain of Pirijpur village in Godagari upazila said he cultivated lentils on two bighas this year without spending extra on irrigation. Farmers can harvest 4-5 maunds per bigha, each maund selling for Tk 3,800-4,000. 

Abul Kalam Azad of Polashbari village cultivated lentils on six bighas, harvesting 5-6 maunds per bigha, with each maund selling for Tk 4,000-4,300. Zakir Hossain of Hatibandha village said farmers are increasingly interested in lentil cultivation as it requires minimal irrigation and has yielded good harvests in recent years.