SIRAJGANJ, Jan 23: Due to favourable weather condition and timely supply of necessary agri-inputs, the groundnuts growers of char in Jamuna Rivers under Sirakgsnj district are expecting bumper output this season.
Farmers of the agri-zone generally sow the seeds of the quality groundnuts from October to November and harvest them from January to February.
They can grow 16 to 20 maunds of crops from a hectare of land if they nurture those well.
The farmers are selling each maund of groundnut at Tk 1,400 to 1,700 in the retail market while Tk 1,200 to 1,300 in the wholesale markets against Tk 700 to 900 production cost.
Fearing capital loss farmers were compelled to harvest their produce prior to the scheduled time, said farmer Abul Kalam Azad. Untimely rain as well as the incessant rainfall is the main cause of making farmers upset, he added.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Sirajganj groundnut was cultivated on 2,800 hectares, including 200 hectares in Bangalee and 500 Jamuan riverbeds this year.
A good number of extreme poor farmers of char area who cultivated groundnut in the Jamuna and Bangalee riverbeds are expecting both fair market price and satisfactory yield, DAE added.
With assistance of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) the farming is expanding rapidly in Belkichi, Kazipur, Chouhali, Raoyganj and Sadar upazilas in the district.
Farmer Abul Hossain of Gonergati Char area in Sadar upazila, said he cultivated groundnut on two bighas of land in the Jamuna river basin and had a plan to harvest the crop in last week of January. In the previous years, he got 12 to 15 maunds of groundnuts from each acre of land, he added.
The Deputy Director of DAE Md Arshad Ali said his department always encourages farmers, especially char farmers, to grow groundnut and other spice items on sandy soil.
Groundnut growers are to spend Tk 11,000 in one acre of land to pay seeds, labour, pesticides and produced about 12 to 15 maunds of groundnut, he added.
