DINAJPUR, Dec 14, 2024 (BSS) - Farmers of the district have become happy over the maize farming here due to its gradually increasing demand and lucrative market price.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has set a target to cultivate maize in the district on 75,500 hectares of land during the current season with a production target of 2,57,000 tons of maize.

Farmers of the district have already cultivated maize on 37,200 hectares of land till December 12 which is 49 percent of the total target.

The yield of maize was 85 to 90 maunds per hectare last year.

Deputy Director of DAE Md Nuruzzaman Mia said maize cultivation has increased in the district as it is used for fish and livestock food.

Farmers are switching to maize cultivation in increasing numbers because of better prices of cereal and the high demand for feed and flour.

The farmers got fair prices of maize during the last couple of years inspiring them to cultivate more maize as its farming risk-free. There are brighter prospects for increasing maize production in the district, he said.

Besides various types of delicious fast food are now being made from corn. The value of maize has increased as its flour is used in bakery products instead of wheat flour.

Farmers are cultivating maize on 4,550 hectares of land in Sadar upazila, 6,550 hectares in Birol, 6,650 hectares in Chirirbandar, 5,400 hectares in Bochaganj, 5,750 hectares in Kaharole, 7,250 hectares in Birganj, 4,850 hectares in Khansama, 7,200 hectares in Parbatipur, 5,850 hectares in Fulbari, 5,450 hectares in Birampur, 7,200 hectares in Nawabganj, 5,200 hectares in Gharaghat and 4,200 hectares of land in Hakimpur upazila.

The agriculture department distributed free seeds and fertilizers among 8,650 marginal farmers in 13 upazilas of the district as an incentive to encourage them to cultivate maize on their land.

Each farmer has been given 2 kg of maize seeds 20 kg of DAP fertilizer and 10 kg of MOP fertilizer free of cost against one bigha of land.