The farmers of Shibchar upazila of Madaripur district are anticipating a bumper production of wheat in the current season due to satisfactory weather conditions and the use of modern agricultural technology.
In recent years, the increasing number of farmers in the area have become more interested in wheat cultivation due to low cost and high profit.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in the upazila said that they targeted to cultivate wheat on 1,650 hectares of land with a production target of 5500 tonnes. But in the current season, wheat was cultivated on 1,720 hectares in the upazila, exceeding its fixed target.
DAE sources said in recent years, wheat cultivation increased significantly in the upazila due to its spiralling demand around the year.
Md Asraf Ali, a farmer of the upazila, said “The weather condition has been good for wheat farming this season. Besides, the supply of all agricultural inputs was completed in due time.”.
Abdul Majid, one of the wheat cultivators under the upazila said, “Wheat farming has been enhanced to a greater extent in the region due to various reasons for the last couple of years. Wheat is one of the less-irrigation consuming crops and it has a great demand in the markets around the year”. Farmer Ohidul Islam and Ohidul Islam from the Kadirpur area also echoed the same.
Bandorkhola area’s wheat farmer Ilias Hossain said, “Every year I cultivate wheat on 1-2 bighas of land. Wheat requires half production costs compared to paddy. I prepared the land and planted the wheat seeds with much hope. If I get a good yield, I will be able to live happily with my family”.
Kutubpur area wheat farmer Muhammad Nazrul Islam told the Daily Sun, “We are now cultivating wheat on the lands where Boro paddy cultivation was done earlier. Production cost in Boro cultivation is very high. As a result, in many cases, the profit can be low. However, the cost of wheat production is very low. For this reason, we are now cultivating wheat”.
Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer of the upazila Partha Pratim Hira said that compared to the last year, there has been a lot more wheat cultivation in the upazila. They have been advising farmers on a regular basis and monitoring the fields, he said.
Shibchar Upazila Agriculture Officer Rafiqul Islam said “We hope that the farmers will get a good yield of wheat this year.”
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdullah Al-Mamun said the upazila agriculture office is providing round-the-clock support to the farmers. Interest in wheat cultivation among farmers is increasing day by day due to good yield and high prices.