Maize cultivation not rises expectedly in Satkhira
SATKHIRA, June 23: Despite government incentives totaling Tk 87,3,400 this season, maize cultivation in Satkhira district has not seen expected growth due to lack of farmer interest. Farmers cite challenges like inadequate modern agricultural technology for maize threshing, poor local market management, and marketing complexities. With 272 hectares cultivated this year yielding 2,250 tonnes of maize, the district faces a shortfall against its 5,500 MT annual demand, leading to imports. Mozammel Haque of Cafe Flower highlights the need for improved machinery to alleviate farmer struggles.
SATKHIRA, June 23: Maize cultivation is not increasing expectedly in the district due to lack of interest among growers.
Growers are not becoming interested in cultivating maize despite government incentives.
This season the government gave an incentive of Tk 87,3,400 in order to increase the maize cultivation in the district. Maize was cultivated on 272 hectares (ha) of land in the district.
While talking with this correspondent of The Daily Observer, growers said, there is no modern agricultural technology for threshing maize; they are losing interests in cultivating this crop due to lack of local market management, and different types of marketing complications.
Sometimes they have to be victims of harassment.
Abul Kalam, farmer of Miasaheber Dangi Village in Sadar Upazila, said, “I have got 1,800 kilogram maize from two bighas of land this season; but I had to suffer marketing; maize market management has not been developed here due to poor maize production. I did not get fair price.”
Md Saiful Islam, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in the district, said, in the current season, 272 ha of land were farmed in seven upazilas of the district; the maize production is 2,250 tonnes; 640 farmers were given free seeds and fertiliser as incentives to increase maize cultivation; and the value of the maize is Tk 87,3,400.
When asked why the maize cultivation is not increasing significantly even after giving necessary incentives, he said, The corn cultivation will increase gradually; in the last year, 244 ha of land were cultivated; this season the maize was farmed on 272 ha; the land-size has been expanded by 28 ha; and the land-size will increase in the future.
Farmers and businessmen said, the maize cultivation is increasing at a slow pace.
At present, maize is selling in the district as fish and cattle feed. The district has an annual demand of about 5,500 MT maize. In contrast, this year the maize production has been at 2,250 mt. The remaining maize is imported.
Mozammel Haque, owner of Cafe Flower, a maize mill in Sultanpur of Satkhira Municipality, said, the quality of the maize that is produced locally is not very good; after harvesting from the field, the corn is removed from the cob with the help of machines; farmers are suffering due to lack of modern machinery for threshing maize.
Source Link : https://www.observerbd.com/news.php?id=478045
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