The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

A better wheat production is likely as the farmers cultivated the crop on more land this year than the previous seasons and the plants are growing well everywhere in the country's northern region due to favourable climatic conditions.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing 4,69,220 tons of wheat from 2,22,962 hectares of land during the current Rabi season in the 16 northern districts.

DAE sources said a total of 2,33,600 tonnes of wheat are expected to produce from 1,10,762 hectares in eight districts under Rangpur Agriculture Zone and 2,35,620 tonnes from 1,12,200 hectares in another eight districts under Rajshahi Agriculture Zone this time.

The sources said the departments concerned, including the DAE, the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation and the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, have taken special steps to make the programme a success.

The DAE fixed target for producing the wheat in the region could not be achieved during the last five consecutive seasons due to various reasons, including diversification of crop farming and less interest of farmers in cultivating the crop, the sources added.

During the last Rabi season, the DAE fixed the target for producing 4,91,507 tonnes of wheat from 2,84,108 hectares in the northern districts and the target was not achieved and the results were the same during the previous consecutive seasons.

Officials are expecting to achieve the fixed target of the current season as huge motivational activities had been conducted and the farmers were provided with quality wheat seeds, fertilizers and other necessary inputs for the purpose, the sources said.

"We are putting in our level-best effort for attaining the fixed target of wheat production this season as it has much demand among the consumers," Principal Scientific Officer of Regional Wheat Research Station Dr. Moznur Rahman said.

Sowing of the seeds has already been completed and the enthusiastic farmers are now busy in taking care of the growing wheat plants everywhere with a hope to get a better production, officials said.