Chilmari (Kurigram) Correspondent

Despite the bumper yield of maize, the farmers are facing losses for not getting fair price in the market in Chilmari.

Jute saplings are burning in intense heat as the pressure of losses continues. Due to lack of expected rain for almost a month, jute saplings are falling in most of the land due to excessive heat.

Due to lack of water in the land, cracks have appeared. The agriculture department says that despite the bumper yield of maize, the farmers at the field level are not getting the price they expected. Meanwhile, the root of the plant is drying up as there is not enough water at the base of the seedling. Farmers are facing loss.

According to the information of the Agriculture Department, the cultivation of maize has been extensive this year. The department said that much more than the target has been achieved. The target for maize was 14,500 hectares. 18,200 hectares have been acquired from this. It showed that on average, 13 tons of maize was produced per hectare of land. On the other hand, the target for jute cultivation has been fixed at 38,200 hectares. Out of this, 38,500 hectares of land has been cultivated with jute.

The Department of Agriculture says that the yield of some varieties of maize has been good. Among them were TWA-786, Bir, Bahadur, Super Sign. Marginal farmers got expected yield by planting these few varieties of maize seeds. On the other hand, it was seen that the demand for jute seeds was O-9897, JRO-524, Robi-1.

It has been found out that there was a large yield of corn in Ashtamirchar, Nayarhat and Chilmari unions of the upazila. However, marginal farmers are facing loss due to lack of market price. They say that there is a deficit of 1 to 200 taka per maund of corn in the sale. Corn farmers' foreheads burned due to intense heat even in jute plantations due to fear of corn prices.

Due to lack of rain, saplings of several bigha of jute fields have dried up. The field burst into flames in the heat. On the surface, it can be seen that jute has been cultivated in a few acres of Bajra Diyarkhata pasture of Nayarhat Union of the upazila. But the farmers were crying for rain. Vast pasture lands have been eroded by drought. The plantation is burnt. The roots of the plants are buried in the ground.

When jute saplings are supposed to be 4 feet tall, some field plants are not even a foot tall. The farmers of this region are extremely worried about this. Rain is the way out of this crisis or worry. Seedlings will become fresh if rain meets.

Mahfuzar Rahman, a farmer of Bajra Diyarkhata in Nayarhat Union, said that the yield of maize in 5 bigha land was good. But due to lack of market value, losses have to be counted. The cost of cultivation is not increased by selling corn. I have now planted jute in 3 acres of land to make up for the loss in maize. There will also be losses. Due to not being able to give enough water, the root of the tree has dried up due to excessive heat. Now there is no opportunity to give water through irrigation. Waiting for rain now.

Farmer Hannan Mia of Char area of Bandal is planting jute on 3 bigha land. However, this farmer has given up hope as there is no rain. He said that jute seedlings could not grow due to heat and sun. At the age of the current seedling tree, the tree was 4 feet tall. But you see that due to lack of water, the tree is still mixed with the soil.

These plants will no longer exist. Without asking about the cultivation of maize, he said that there has been a total loss this year. I sold the corn from the land last season for 1 thousand taka. But now if corn is picked and dried and sold, no one is taking more than 880 taka. It has been seen that the cost of cultivation will not rise.

Alam Mia, a former member of that area said, I cultivated jute in my few bigha land. But there is no opportunity to give water through irrigation because it is pasture land. The reason for this is that all the sandy soil cannot be irrigated with irrigation water. Rain is the only hope now.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Kumar Pranay Bishan Das said, farmers were more inclined towards maize cultivation this year. As the cost is less than other crops, they are cultivating corn in the hope of profit, as the current market price is low, they are not able to match the income and expenses. He also said that due to continuous heat, the roots of jute saplings are drying up.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Kumar Pranay Bishan Das said farmers were more inclined towards maize cultivation this year. As the cost is less than other crops, they are cultivating corn in the hope of profit, as the current market price is low, they are not able to match the income and expenses. He also said that due to continuous heat, the roots of jute saplings are drying up.