Because it costs little and pays well, maize farming is growing day by day in Shaistaganj, Habiganj. Maize is used most of all in making livestock feed, so demand stays high all year. Compared with other crops, maize is cheaper and risk-free to grow, gives more yield for less work and needs little irrigation and fertiliser, so farmers are becoming more interested in it. With the weather favourable, growers expect a good yield this year.

According to the upazila agriculture office, maize was grown on 8 hectares in the upazila last year, rising to 15.5 hectares this year. In the Jagatpur area of the upazila, farmers have grown maize across whole fields, a sight worth seeing. The plants have already set cobs, and some are starting to mature.

Farmers say they spent Tk 7,000-8,000 a bigha and are getting 30-35 maunds. Last year maize sold for Tk 1,000 to 1,200 a maund; this year the price has gone above Tk 1,500.

Several farmers said maize costs comparatively less to grow than other crops, and every part of it is useful: the leaves can be fed to cattle and the stalks and cobs used as fuel. Demand and prices in the market are good. If they get the yields and prices they hope for, they will grow it on more land next year.

A farmer named Dulal Mia said he had grown maize for the first time, on 40 decimals of land. With a good yield, he hopes to make a profit.

Gias Uddin, a farmer in Jagatpur village, said: "I have grown maize on 4 bighas this year. The yield is good. I expect 20-25 maunds of maize a bigha."

Shaistaganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Moshiur Rahman said: "The upazila has 3,259 hectares of cultivable land. This year maize has been grown on 15.5 hectares, 7.5 hectares more than last year. Maize growers have been given various kinds of support, including fertiliser and seed from the government. If the weather stays favourable, the yield will be good."

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