Wheat cultivation has exceeded the target in Bogura as farmers are interested in getting government incentives. Bumper yield of wheat has been achieved in the current season due to favorable weather and suitable land for cultivation. Farmers think that if they get good price in the market, they will be able to benefit this time. The farmers said that they will cultivate more land in the future if it is profitable. Wheat cultivation land in Bogura has increased as compared to last year due to increasing demand and price of granular grains.
Over the last few years, more land has been cultivated than the target due to good prices of wheat and other processed products from wheat in the market. Meanwhile, wheat threshing is said to be in its final stages. It is learned that the government has provided free improved wheat seeds and fertilizers to 10,000 farmers in the district this year. The farmers of the district are inclined to cultivate wheat as it is more profitable to cultivate wheat at a comparatively low cost than other crops.
Wheat is threshed from March to mid-April after sowing in December. Although the cost of repatriation is 6 to 7 thousand Tk, the maximum cost of the incentive farmers is 3 to 3 thousand Tk. Wheat is available at 8 to 12 maunds per bigha, and is sold at 1200 to 1300 Tk per maund.
Bari-30, 32, and Bari-33 varieties of wheat have been cultivated more in Sonatala, Sariakandi, Dhunat and Gabtali upazilas of Bogura. The cultivation is 2,082 hectares, which is 502 hectares more than the target. Last year wheat was cultivated in 2,575 hectares of land in Bogura but this time it has increased to 306 hectares. The production target for 2,072 hectares of land this year has been set at 7,269 metric tons. However, if the land is increased more than the target, the production will also increase. Among the wheat varieties cultivated in the district are Bari-30, 32, and Bari-33. The yield of this variety of wheat is 2.5 to 3 metric tons per hectare. The concerned people are hoping that if the dry and sunny weather lasts till the end, the production target of this crop will be exceeded.
Enamul Haque, Additional Deputy Director (Grain), Department of Agricultural Extension, Bogura, said farmers are becoming interested in wheat cultivation with government incentives. The demand and price of granular grains have increased over the last few years. Seeds and fertilizers have been provided as incentives for 10,000 bighas this year. Farmers are being provided free improved seeds, training and necessary advice.
According to the investigation, new wheat is being sold at Tk 1,200 to Rs 1,300 per maund in the local markets of Bogura, which is higher than the same period last year. Prices of wheat flour and flour have also gone up. Bablu Mia, a wheat farmer from Padmapara in Gabtali, Bogura, said he has been cultivating wheat for the last few years. Fertilizer irrigation takes less in wheat cultivation. By cultivating improved varieties of wheat, he got 13 maunds of wheat per bigha. Farmers are also benefiting by using wheat land straw as fuel. Dulal Hossain, Deputy Director, Department of Agricultural Extension, Bogura, said that farmers have been cultivating more land than the target as they are interested in cultivating wheat with government incentives. The Department of Agriculture expects more agricultural land in the future.
