Farming of some non-traditional crops like groundnut has been on rise in greater Sylhet region as many farmers were getting interest on those for better returns, sources informed.
In total 1,492 hectares of land were used for cultivation of groundnut in four districts of the division during the just-ended season.
It includes 55 hectares in Sylhet, 18 hectares in Moulvibazar, 70 hectares in Habiganj and highest 1349 hectares in the district of Sunamganj.
On an average the production stood at 1.6 metric tonnes per hectare this season, an official informed as harvest of the crop began on some areas.
Contacted the Deputy Director of the DAE, Sylhet divisional office Mozumder Md. Ilias said the crop's farming has been spreading in Sunamganj district in a big way.
The crop is cultivated twice a year but once it was cultivated in winter only. Now the farmers can cultivate groundnut also in the kharif-1 season, which starts from March 15, the official added.
Farmers here can produce the groundnut twice as the soil of the upazilas like Sunamganj Sadar, Biswambharpur and Tahirpur upazilas is suitable for the crop, said the Deputy Director of the DAE's Sunamganj Md, Bashir Ahmed.
The district's total covered area stood at 1,400 hectares this year. Besides, other crops like maize, watermelon etc can also be produced in the region, he added.
