Philippine black sugarcane is being grown commercially in Chuadanga. Because sugarcane pays better than other crops, farmers in the area are becoming more interested in it. Growing this variety costs about Tk 1 lakh a bigha.

After costs, the profit is about Tk 1.5 lakh a bigha, and if farmers keep profiting, more land is likely to go under sugarcane in future.

Farmer Haris Chowdhury of Dinnathpur village in Shankarchandra union of Chuadanga Sadar upazila first grew the Philippine black variety in 2018. He got the seedlings through the Sadar upazila agriculture office and first grew the cane on three kathas as a trial.

Because of the yield, cane quality, market demand and profit, he grew it on four and a half bighas the following year. He also raises seedlings and sells them to other farmers in the district.

Haris Chowdhury said: "At first I grew this variety on a small plot. Because the yield was good, I became interested. To grow it on a larger scale I raised the seedlings myself and planted four and a half bighas this season. I could make a profit of Tk 6 lakh. I am producing seedlings to spread sugarcane farming across the country."

Sugarcane farmer Sohan Ali said: "I am growing Philippine black sugarcane on two bighas. Other farmers want the seedlings badly. Sugarcane farming is profitable, and new entrepreneurs can become self-reliant by growing it."

Mofiz Joarder, a farmer in the village, said: "I will grow sugarcane on one bigha this year. I have bought 130 Philippine black canes from Dinnathpur village to raise seedlings, at Tk 50 a piece. I will grow sugarcane because other crops are not profitable."

Source: Staff Correspondent. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.