Farmers in Manikganj are hopeful of a bumper maize crop this season. With favourable weather and growing interest in modern farming technology, they expect a big harvest at low cost and on time.

More farmers have turned to maize than last year. Maize costs little to grow while fetching good yields and prices, and farmers' interest in it has clearly grown. Hoping for a good harvest, farmers are working day and night.

According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), farmers have grown maize on 4,333 hectares more than last year. Last year maize was grown on 17,032 hectares; this year it covers 21,365 hectares in the district. Maize is grown in all seven upazilas of Manikganj, most of all in the char areas of Singair, Saturia, Ghior, Daulatpur and Harirampur.

Nasir Hossain of Azimnagar union in Harirampur told Jago News: "We hope the yield will be better than last year, and that we will get a good price too."

Shahin Bepari, a farmer from the same area, told Jago News he has grown maize for ten years and never made a loss. Maize costs little and is a profitable crop in a short time. For the past four years he has grown it on 6 bighas, and he expects a good yield this year too.

Majid, a farmer in the Atigram area of Sadar upazila, told Jago News he has grown maize on about 8 bighas this year. Farmers got whatever advice they sought from the agriculture department. The department kept in regular contact with them, including group awareness meetings on controlling crop diseases and pests. Because they were advised on maize seed, pesticides, weed control and proper intensive care, farmers see bright prospects for maize this year.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.