RANGPUR, Jan 3, 2025 (BSS) – Tender plants of maize are growing superbly predicting bumper output as enthusiastic farmers are continuing sowing of its seeds during the current Rabi season in Rangpur agriculture region.
 
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers are expanding cultivation of the less irrigation water consuming and highly money-spinning cash crop after getting repeated bumper production with rewarding prices in recent years.
 
“Expanded maize cultivation is improving the livelihoods of farmers and helping them in achieving self-reliance in the region,” Additional Director of the DAE’s Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Obaidur Rahman Mondal said today.
 
The speedily growing demand of maize in the country’s flourishing poultry, dairy and animal husbandry sectors and food industries is encouraging farmers to further increase its cultivation as a cash crop to reap more profits.
 
The DAE has fixed a target of producing 13,28,993 tonnes of maize from 1,17,043 hectares of land for all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat in Rangpur agriculture region this season.
  
“Meanwhile, farmers have already brought 1,18,131 hectares of land under its cultivation already exceeding the fixed farming target by 0.93 percent as the process of sowing of its seeds will continue till this month-end,” he said.
  
Talking to BSS, Agriculturalist Dr Md Abdul Mazid, who got the Independence Medal-2018 (food security), said there are more potential ways to increase maize yield by bringing vast tracts of char lands in the riverine areas.
 
Cultivation of maize is expanding fast both on the main land and riverine char areas improving the livelihoods and living standard of small and marginal farmers, landless char and riverside people in recent decades in the region.
 
Along with the government, some NGOs distributed high yielding varieties of maize seeds and inputs among landless, small and marginal farmers, especially in char areas, for further enhancing maize cultivation this season.
 
People living in char and riverside areas are bringing more lands under maize farming on char lands on the Teesta, Brahmaputra, Dharla, Jamuna, Dudhkumar, Kartoa, Ghaghot, Atrai and other riverine areas in Rangpur region this season. 
    
“The expanding maize cultivation is largely contributing to cut poverty and help small and marginal farmers, landless char and riverside people in improving their livelihoods braving the adverse impacts of climate change,” he said. 
   
Agriculturalist Mazid laid emphasis on expanding cultivation of the low-irrigation water consuming maize crop also to increase its production along with saving huge underground water amid changing climate. 
            
He suggested farmers adopt conservation agriculture-based technologies in maize cultivation to lessen the farming time and get maximum output by reducing farming cost and earning more profits. 
                         
Talking to BSS, farmers Isahaque Ali, Mohsin Ali, Zobaidur Rahman, Md Musfikur Rahim and Azgar Ali of different villages in Rangpur said they are sowing maize seeds on their crop lands after harvesting Aman rice. 
 
Businessman Mosfiqur Rahman Chowdhury today said maize is currently being sold at rates between Taka 1,200 and Taka 1,300 per mound (every 40 kg) in local markets across Rangpur division.