RANGPUR, April 17, 2022 (BSS) - An excellent production of pulses is likely as the harvesting process nearing completion in Rangpur agriculture region this season.
 
"A target of producing 5,091 tonnes of six varieties of pulses from 3,735 hectares of land was fixed for Rangpur agriculture region during the 2021-2022 Rabi season," Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md. Tauhidul Ikbal said.
 
The fixed target included production of 2,191 tonnes of lentil from 1,631 hectares of land, 2,467 tonnes of 'Khesari' from 1,797 hectares, 88 tonnes of 'Arhar' from 70 hectares, 120 tonnes of gram from 62 hectares, 195 tonnes mungbean from 155 hectares and 30 tonnes of cowpea from 20 hectares of land.
 
However, farmers finally cultivated pulses on 3,198 hectares of land, less by 1,893 hectares against the fixed farming target as a result of crop diversification and cultivation of maize, chili and vegetables on more land.
 
"Farmers have cultivated lentil on 1,219 hectares of land, 'Khesari' on 1,595 hectares, 'Arhar' on 48 hectares, gram on 51 hectares, mungbean on 273 hectares and cowpea on 12 hectares of land," he said.
 
Till Saturday, harvesting of pulses on 3,023 hectares of land has been completed, producing 4,118 tonnes of the six varieties of pulses in the region.

"Of them, farmers have already harvested lentil on 1,194 hectares of land, 'Khesari' on 1,539 hectares, 'Arhar' on 38 hectares, gram on 35 hectares, mungbean on 247 hectares and cowpea on eight hectares of land," Ikbal said.
 
Currently, farmers are happy getting lucrative prices for their produced different varieties of pulses in all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Nilphamari in the region.
 
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Agriculturist Md. Obaidur Rahman Mandal said the government provided incentives, training, quality seeds, latest technologies and inputs to farmers to make the pulse farming program a success.
 
"Besides, commercial banks disbursed easy-term agri-loans to farmers to encourage them in bringing more land under cultivation of pulses to enhance production this season," Mandal added.
 
Talking to BSS today, Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid said there is a brighter prospect to increase pulse production in the region despite crop diversification.
 
"Special emphasis should be put on exploring the prospect for enhancing pulse output through increasing its cultivation, adopting latest agriculture technologies and using high yielding varieties of seeds," he said.
 
He suggested adoption of the mixed, relay and intercropping methods in farming of pulses on the mainland and riverine char areas to enhance production and make the nation self-reliant on pulses.
 
Farmers Anwar Hossain, Mohiuddin Ahmed and Golam Sarwar of Rangpur Sadar upazila said they already harvested their cultivated pulses and got excellent output with fair prices.