RANGPUR, Feb 27: The peanut cultivators in the district are optimistic about an abundant production of the crop during the current season.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur official sources said peanut was cultivated on about 900 hectares of land this year in the district. The farmers are delighted to see the growth of peanut plants.
DAE sources said, the sandy soil and climate of the region are favourable for peanut cultivation.
Peanut can be cultivated in both summer and winter as temperature does not hamper its cultivation. It needs a little bit of irrigation for a short period, sources also said.
Owing to good profit and repeated good yield in comparison with some other crops the peasants are showing their interest in the cultivation of the crop in recent years, sources added.
A number of farmers in char areas of the district said that they hope to change their financial condition by large scale cultivation of peanut on their lands this season.
Mainul, a peanut grower of Char Thakurdas village at kawnia Upazila told The Financial Express that he cultivated the crop on 40 decimals of land during this season.
The plants are growing well, signaling a bumper production of the crop. If the weather remains congenial he will get satisfactory output, he said.
Aminul Islam, another farmer of village Morneya at Gangachara upazila said he cultivated the crop on one bigha of land this year and is expecting a bumper production, if the weather remains conducive.
Last year he also got good yield as well as satisfactory price of the crop which encouraged him to enhance its farming area this season, he said.
Sources said the landless and river eroded char people have also brought more land under peanut farming this year.
DAE sources said sufficient water supply, agri-inputs and congenial weather condition enhanced its cultivation in the region this year, making the farmers hopeful of a good output of the crop.
Growers were given necessary advice and assistance in order to boost the production of the crop this year, sources added.
