Sugarcane farming is on the rise in Sylhet region although the crop was not popular in the division years ago. Some growers of Sunamganj and Habiganj districts have started farming the cash crop for producing molasses.
According to the DAE officials, sugarcane is cultivated on about 250 hectares of land this year in Sunamganj, Habiganj and Moulvibazar districts of Sylhet. However, some other people cultivate it on their homesteads also.
Cultivation may expand in months, officials added.
While visiting some villages in Tahirpur and Biswambharpur upazilas on the Meghalayan frontier recently this correspondent found a number of small factories are producing molasses.
A well-to-do farmer Abdul Bari of Golapganj upazila in Sylhet said farmers usually do not show their interest in sugarcane farming as it takes longer period to get harvested.
Additional director of DAE, Sylhet divisional office Md Altabur Rahman said, "We suggest growers to farm high yielding varieties of sugarcane for more profit. Cultivation of the crop should be increased for producing molasses on commercial basis."
