Jhenaidah has had a bumper maize crop this season, and the expected yield has brought smiles back to farmers' faces. Farmers say favourable weather made for a good crop, though excessive drought has made the cobs somewhat lighter and some maize is drying on the plant. Despite the good yield, there is discontent over the price of fresh maize.
Maize has been grown widely in every upazila of the district. Growers are busy harvesting and threshing in the fields, and children are working cheerfully alongside the adults of the family.
Farmers say the yield is very good this year. Early on, many suffered losses after sowing poor-quality seed, and they hope the good harvest will make up for that. But some say fresh maize is not fetching a good price; a better price is only available after drying it in the sun for two or three days.
What farmers say
Ahmad Ali, a maize grower in Sadar upazila, told Jagonews24: "The price of fresh maize is low. A maund sells for Tk 800 to Tk 820. It would be better if the price were a little higher."
Another farmer, Taher Mondal, said: "Dry maize is selling for Tk 1,100 to Tk 1,500 a maund. Selling at this price will not bring much profit, which is why many are drying their maize and storing it at home. Although maize has many uses in the country, traders are not paying farmers a higher price."
Farmer Isharat Ali told Jagonews24: "This year it cost about Tk 16,000 to Tk 18,000 to grow maize on each bigha. The average yield of fresh maize is about 60 to 65 maunds a bigha. After threshing, land lease and labour costs, a profit of Tk 12,000 to Tk 15,000 a bigha may remain."
According to the district office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), farmers have grown maize on 18,750 hectares this year. Depending on seed quality, the potential yield is 65 to 70 maunds a bigha.
DAE deputy director Shashti Chandra Roy told Jagonews24: "The weather suited maize, so the yield is good this time. I hope farmers will get a good price too. It will take a few more days to get the actual yield figures. The DAE and the agriculture department are working tirelessly to increase the cultivation of maize and other food grains."
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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