The maize farming is getting popular among the farmers in Brahmanbaria as there is a huge demand of the crop. Moreover, they can make a good profit cultivating it. The farmers of the district experienced a bumper yield this season due to the favourable weather. Maize is cultivated in the district almost throughout the year.
The demand of maize is increasing gradually as it is used as poultry, animal, fish feed and in many other food products. The number of maize growers in Brahmanbaria is increasing day by day as it has high demand in the market and the farmers can make good profit selling the crop.
The target was set to cultivate maize in 578 hectares of land in the district this season. However, maize is being cultivated in 663 hectares of land. Although the yield was good in all upazilas of the district, the highest amount of maize was cultivated in Bancharampur Upazila this season. The crop was cultivated in 400 hectares of land in Bancharampur.
The farmers said the cost of cultivation has increased a little this year as the prices of agricultural materials have increased. They are getting 25 to 28 maunds of maize from per Kani of land due to the suitable weather from which they make a profit of Tk 15,000 to Tk 20,000. The market price of per maund of maize is Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,100. Maize is cultivated in Brahmanbaria throughout the year for cattle silage. Each sack of 50 kg silage is sold at Tk 500 as animal feed.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said the maize cultivation increased due to providing necessary technical assistance to the farmers, along with incentives and exhibitions. NK- 40, Super Shine-2760, Super Shine-2796 and Super Nine- 255 varieties of maize are being cultivated in the district. Almost 7,956 metric tons of maize was harvested in the current season in Brahmabaria.
Sushanta Saha, Official of Brahmanbaria DAE, said a huge amount of foreign currency is saved by cultivating the profitable crop maize.
