The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shamim Jahangir

The maiz farmers across the country are elated over the prospect of its bumper production this season, but at the same time they are worried that they will not get fair price as nearly 50 per cent of the poultry firms have been closed down following the outbreak of bird flu.

Bulk of this crop is purchased by the owners of poultry as it is main poultry farms feed.

Sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said only five to ten percent maize is consumed by the people and the rest is supplied to poultry farms.

A total of 3.33 lakh hectares of land were brought under maize cultivation this season against the target of 2 lakh hectares, sources added.

The production of maize has been estimated at 15 lakh tonnes surpassing the target by 4.64 lakh tones.

Of the total maize lands, 4,000 hectares of land were brought under Jamalpur, 6,500 hectare under Comilla, 13,100 hectares under Rajshahi, 11,400 hectares under Chapainoabganj, 9,000 hectares under Naogaon, 5,700 hectares under Natore, 18,700 hectares under Bagura, 11,700 hectares under Rangpur, 14,700 hectares under Gaibanda, 27,500 hectares under Lalmonirhat, 18,900 hectares under Dinajpur, 27,500 hectares under Thakurgaon, 17,600 hectares under Jhenadaha, 44,300 hectares under Choadanga, 22,700 hectares under Kushtia and 22,700 hectares under Meherpur.

Abu Raihan, a farmer of Silak in Naogaon district, told the New National that he cultivated maize on over one acre of land. "But I will not get fair price as its price has plummeted in the market," he said.

"The price of maize has dropped by Tk three to Tk five per kilogram with last few days. It is selling at Tk 13 per kilogram now an against Tk 17 per kilogram last month," Raihan further said.

Around 75,000 poultry farmers out of 1.5 lakh have wrapped up their business following massive losses in the wake of bird flu.

Besides, over 60 poultry breeders and hatching industries have stopped their business after sustaining heavy losses.

Mosiur Rahman, General Secretary of the Poultry Breeders and Hatching Association of Bangladesh, said, "we procure near 70 per cent of maize from within the country and the rest from abroad.

The total demand of maize is 10 to 11 lakh metric tonnes in the poultry sector, according to him.

He urged the Government to take initiative for reducing rate of interest on bank loan for the sustenance of poultry industry.

"If the government reduces bank interest from 12 per cent to 6 per cent, the industry will be on its track again," Mosiur hoped.