JASHORE, Mar 13 (BSS): Farmers are expecting a bumper production of maize in the six south-western districts under Khulna division during the current season as the farmers cultivated the crop on record amounts of land.
The six districts are- Jashore, Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Meherpur and Magura.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said maize cultivation is increasing every year as the farmers are showing interest in expanding its farming after getting repeated bumper production with excellent market price in the recent years.
DAE office sources said a total of 88,624 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation in the districts this year.
Additional Director of Jashore DAE Nirmal Kumar Dey said bumper maize production is expected due to favourable weather conditions along with adequate supplying of necessary seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.
District wise maize cultivation follows as 46,121 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation in Chuadanga district, 17,420 hectares of land in Jhenaidah district, 8,475 hectares in Kushtia, 15835 hectares of land in Meherpur district, 638 hectares in Jashore and 125 hectares of land in Magura district.
Farmers cultivated different high yielding varieties of maize on their land including Kaberi, Supershine-2760, Sunshine, Pioneer V-92 and Elite variety, said agriculture officer of DAE Shariful Islam.
The cultivation of maize is increasing in the region day by day. Most of the farmers of the region are cultivating maize on their fallow land instead of wheat duo to less irrigation cost, pest attack and its bumper production, he said.
Maize farming has become more profitable than many other crops encouraging the farmers in cultivating the cereal crop on more lands, he added.
