Sherpur (Bogura) Correspondent

Maize cultivation is gradually increasing in Sherpur of Bogura. Farmers are turning to maize due to availability of good prices and profitable cultivation.

On Thursday (December 28), various areas of this huge locality built on the banks of Bengali and Vadai rivers along with Karotoya can be seen, as if the farmers of the area have made a revolution in maize cultivation. Maize cultivation has changed the life picture of many people in these areas. It can be seen that more land is being cultivated this year than other years.

According to the sources of Sherpur Upazila Agriculture Office, maize has been cultivated in about 2500 hectares of land so far this year, which is more than last year. Many are still in the process of sowing maize seeds. This year, a total of 700 marginal farmers have been given incentives of two kg of maize seed, 20 kg of DAP and 10 kg of MOP fertilizer each. This is increasing the interest of the farmers in maize cultivation.

It can be seen on the surface, in the Salfa area of Khanpur Union, there is a huge field along the banks of the Bengali River, where once only water and water could be seen. Today, there are vast fields of maize cultivation.Farmers also cultivated maize in Gopalpur area, eastern area of Garidah union, Khamarkandi union, Kusumbi, Simabari and vast areas of Sughat union. Barnali, Shubhra, Bari Bhutta etc. have been cultivated by the farmers of various advanced varieties of maize. Now they are busy taking care of the land.

Saidul Islam, a farmer of Bangra village of Garidah union, said that maize is a profitable crop and there is a high demand for it. He said that it costs 7 to 9 thousand taka to cultivate corn on one bigha of land. 35 to 45 maunds of maize are produced per bigha. Pratiman corn can be sold for Tk 1200-1300. If the weather is favorable, he expects a bumper crop of maize this year. However, he commented that the cost of production will increase slightly due to the increase in the prices of oil, fertilizers and pesticides.

Sherpur Upazila Agriculture Officer Farzana Akhter said that farmers in Sherpur Upazila are tending to maize cultivation. The government is giving incentives and we are always on the side of the farmer giving advice.