Photo: BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, June 16, 2026 (BSS) - Once barren stretches of sand in the Padma River are now yielding bumper groundnut harvests, bringing new hope to farmers in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts.

For years, many char lands remained submerged during the monsoon and lay uncultivated in the dry season. Today, vast areas of those chars are covered with groundnut fields following the introduction of improved seed varieties, modern cultivation techniques and support from the agriculture department.

Under a joint initiative of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), farmers received improved seeds, technical assistance and regular field supervision, leading to extensive groundnut cultivation during the current Rabi season.

Around 1,100 to 1,500 bighas of land in Raninagar Char and adjacent newly emerged areas have been brought under groundnut cultivation this season, turning previously fallow land into productive farmland.

A visit to the area shows farmers harvesting groundnuts and drying freshly uprooted plants across the sandy fields. 

Local farmers said cultivation on the char was once uncertain, but improved technologies and suitable crop varieties have opened up new opportunities for income generation.

Later, on the advice of the agriculture department and BINA, they started experimental groundnut cultivation. After a good yield in the first year, hundreds of farmers have now taken up the crop.
 
Schoolteacher and farmer Mohabbat Ali said, "This land used to lie like a desert before. The BINA office gave us improved seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and necessary advice. Spending 10,000 to 15,000 taka per bigha, we can sell about 45,000 to 50,000 taka worth of groundnuts."

Even after all expenses, the profit is 30,000 to 35,000 taka. Seeing us, many farmers in the area have now become interested in groundnut farming.
 
Farmer Abdur Rahman said, "No crop grew on this char land before. Now, spending about 10,000 taka per bigha, we are making a profit of around 30,000 taka. Without the help of the agriculture department, we might never have seen this potential."
 
Another farmer, Belal Hossain, said, "We started groundnut cultivation on a small scale a few years ago. Now groundnuts are grown across the entire char. The yield is 8 to 10 maunds per bigha. This way, uncultivated land is being put to use, and farmers' incomes are also increasing."
 
Young farmer Shahidul Islam said, "Seeing Mohabbat Ali's success, I also started groundnut farming. This year's yield has been very good. If the weather remains favorable, I will cultivate more land next year."
 
Faisal Iqbal, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Alatuli Union, said groundnuts were never cultivated in this area before. 

Due to the initiative of the agriculture department and BINA in supplying improved seeds, controlling pests and diseases, and providing regular field-level advice, farmers have become encouraged. The area under cultivation is increasing every year.
 
Dr Azadul Haque, senior scientific officer at the BINA Chapainawabganj sub-station, said seeds of BINA-developed groundnut varieties 6, 8 and 10 were distributed free of cost. 
 
Dr Yasin Ali, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, said In the region's newly emerged chars, this crop has much greater potential than others. Following recommendations from the agriculture department, farmers cultivated BINA Groundnut-4, 6 and 8 varieties this season. Harvesting is currently underway and farmers are satisfied with the yield.
 
He added if this trend continues, it will be possible to expand groundnut cultivation on a larger scale in the char areas next year. This will not only increase the use of fallow land but also significantly improve the income and living standards of people in the char regions.
 
According to agriculture officials, this initiative to bring the uncultivated lands of the Padma chars under production is not only increasing farmers' incomes but also opening new doors for the char economy. 

With proper government support, supply of improved seeds, and easier marketing, groundnut could become one of the main cash crops of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj char areas in the future.