RANGPUR, June 19 (BSS): Bumper ground production is expected in Rangpur region as farmers have already started harvesting of the crop during the current season.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said farmers are getting fair price of harvested groundnut with price ranging from Tk 2,000 to Tk 2,400 per maund (40 kilograms) in local markets.
The DAE has fixed a target of producing 6,940 tonnes of groundnut from 4,082 hectares of land for all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat in the region during this Kharif-1 season.
"However, farmers have cultivated groundnut on 4,527 hectares of land exceeding the farming target by 445 hectares of land or 10.90 per cent," Horticulture Specialist of the DAE at its regional office Agriculturist Khondker Md. Mesbahul Islam said today.
Talking to the news agency, farmers of different villages, including char and riverside areas, in different upazilas of the region expressed happiness over excellent production of groundnut crop this season.
Farmer Mohammad Sayeduzzman of Char Biswanath village in Kawnia upazila of Rangpur said he has changed fortune through groundnut cultivation on sandy barren char lands though he had no land.
He has purchased 17 acres of land in last 20 years and is leading a solvent life with his family members.
Farmer Rajibul Islam of the village has also achieved self-reliance through groundnut cultivation on sandy char lands and already purchased 11 acres land.
Farmer Noor Ali of Char Biswanath village in the upazila said he has cultivated groundnut on 90 decimals of land during this Kharif-1 season spending Tk 16,000.
"I have started harvesting groundnut now and expecting to get total production of 22 maunds," he said hoping that he would earn a net profit of Tk 35,000.
Farmer Mohammad Dudu of Char Gonai village said he has cultivated groundnut on 2.50 acres of land spending around Tk 45,000.
"I am hopeful to get production of over 70 maunds of groundnut and earn a net profit of Tk 0.1 million this season," he said.
Like these farmers, many growers in different char villages and riverside areas of the region have achieved solvency through groundnut cultivation.
Kawnia Upazila Agriculture Officer of the DAE Agriculturist Saiful Islam said local farmers and char dwellers have cultivated groundnut on over 600 hectares of land in the upazila, mainly in sandy and riverside char areas.
He said a farmer generally spends about Tk 18,000 for farming groundnut on one acre of land and net profit stands at Tk 45,000 on an average.
Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur agriculture region Agriculturist Muhammad Ali said many farmers, mainly of char areas, have achieved self-reliance by cultivating groundnut twice annually during the Rabi and Kharif-1 seasons in the region.
"Cultivation of groundnut is increasing every year as it has become profitable crop… The groundnut has a huge demand in different food industries," Ali added.