The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Rangpur

Farmers of the northern region are expecting a bumper production of wheat this year as they have already started harvesting the crop after achieving farming target for the first time in a decade, farmers and officials said.

Because of the special steps taken by the government including motivational campaign and post-flood agri- rehabilitation programme, the farmers were encouraged in wheat farming and they were provided training and quality wheat seeds, fertilizers and other necessary inputs this year. Officials concerned told BSS today that the farming target was achieved for the first time this season in a decade as the growers cultivated wheat on their lands and in the vast char areas in the river basins and the crop grew well everywhere due to favourable weather.

The farmers started harvesting the ripe crop everywhere in the region and the yield rate at this early harvesting stage is very satisfactory that predicts a bumper production of the important crop.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) had fixed a target of producing 4,69,220 tonnes of wheat from 2,22,962 hectares of land and the farmers have cultivated the same in 2,17,733 hectares, which is only 5,229 hectares less than the fixed target during this season.

DAE sources said a target of producing 2,33,600 tonnes wheat from 1,10,762 hectares was fixed in eight districts under Rangpur Agriculture Zone where the farmer have cultivated the crop in 1,10,400 hectares this season.

On the other hand, the farmers have cultivated the crop in 1,07,330 hectares against a production target of 2,35,620 tonnes from 1,12,200 hectares in another eight districts under Rajshahi Agriculture Zone this time.

Besides, the landless, small and marginal farmers have cultivated wheat in vast tract of the sandy char lands in the river basins this time that will add to the overall production of the crop to achieve the fixed production target.

The sources said the departments concerned including the DAE, the Armed Forces, BADC, BARI and many NGOs, had taken special steps to make the wheat-farming programme a success.

The DAE-fixed target of producing the wheat in the region could not be achieved during the past one decade due to various reasons, including diversification of crop farming and less interest of farmers in wheat farming.

Deputy Director of DAE, Rangpur Kamal Shariful Alam told BSS that harvesting of wheat has already begun in Rangpur and other northern districts and it will continue till mid-April.