Manikganj, a district blessed with a favorable climate and soil ideal for sugarcane cultivation, has become a haven for several thousand sugarcane farmers.
These diligent cultivators are reaping the rewards of their labor, with sugarcane farming gaining immense popularity among marginal farmers in the region.
According to sources from the Manikganj Agricultural Extension Directorate, the current season has seen the cultivation of chewing sugarcane across 520 hectares of land spread across seven upazilas in the district. Among these, Singair, Manikganj Sadar, and Saturia upazilas stand out as leading regions for sugarcane production.
Fields in remote areas are adorned with rows of sugarcane swaying in the breeze. The native sugarcane breed showcases a radiant, light-yellow skin color, with robust stalks reaching an impressive height of 12-13 feet, standing straight in precise rows. Stout bamboo poles, linked with sturdy ropes, serve to prevent any undesirable bending.
Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Dulal Chandra explains that the sugarcane cultivation season typically commences in October. Loam, sandy loam, and clay loam soils have proven exceptionally suitable for successful sugarcane growth.
Habibur Rahman, a school teacher in Nayabari village in Singair upazila, emphasizes the area's dedication to sugarcane cultivation, with most inhabitants cultivating various sugarcane varieties. An added advantage of this crop is that it allows for companion crops like radish, carrot, onion, potato, sweet potato, sweet gourd, garlic, spinach, datashak, red leaf, and more to be grown alongside. This reduces the production costs, benefitting local farmers.
Hazrat Ali from Garadia village shares his approach to sugarcane farming, detailing how he plants mustard as a companion crop initially, offsetting the initial cost. He reaps significant profits, selling 1 bigha of sugarcane for 45,000 rupees, while his total expenditure stands at a mere 15,000 rupees.
Abdul Ali, also from Nayabari village, cultivates sugarcane on a larger scale, covering 5 bighas of land. The cost per bigha ranges from Tk 18,000 to 20,000, yielding a substantial 5 to 6.5 thousand sugarcane plants per bigha. This year, his sugarcane from 5 bighas of land fetches Tk 7 lakh, providing a handsome profit.
Farmers in the region have recognized the multiple benefits of cultivating indigenous sugarcane varieties, which offer several times more profit than other crops.
Anesh Uddin, a sugarcane buyer at the Mitra bus stand in Sadar Upazila, notes that the prices are high this year, making it challenging to secure sugarcane for less than Tk 40.
Sugarcane seller Kalim Uddin mentions that sugarcane can be purchased from the field for Tk 10 to Tk 12, but after accounting for labor costs, transportation expenses, and wages, the profit margin remains modest. Nevertheless, this year has proven to be a more profitable one compared to previous years.
Abu Md Enayet Ullah, Deputy Director of the Manikganj District Agricultural Extension Department, advises that sugarcane can be cultivated on a piece of land once a year. Following sugarcane cultivation, different crop varieties are introduced on the same land, allowing for sugarcane to be cultivated again the following year.
This rotation maximizes yield and soil health. In the case of Singair, its fertile soil and proximity to the capital have elevated the demand for sugarcane, greatly benefiting local farmers.
