Peanut farming has turned a profitable cash crop for people living in river shoals (charland) located in Jamalpur sadar upazila of the district. More than 80 farmers of Char Jatharthapur in Lakshirchar union in Jamalpur sadar have brought over 100 acres of land under peanut farming. The sandy char land raised on the river Brahmaputra is now giving eye-catching look of the crop.  Farmers already have started harvesting it from the first week of May.  Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS), Jamalpur, under its ‘variety development, seed production and post-harvest technology development of groundnut project’ is providing the farmers with various supports for cultivation of peanut in the barren char land, where other crops seldom grow. Principal Scientific Officer, RARS, Manjurul Kader said: “We have provided the farmers with training on peanut cultivation and given them seeds and pesticides free of cost. After the training, each of the farmers got 15 kilograms of peanut seed to cultivate it on one bigha of land. Besides, we have provided them with technical assistance. We also monitor its farming.” Mozammel, a farmer who brought 6 bighas of land in the char, said: “I have been cultivating peanut for the last two years. Earlier, no cash crop was grown on the land. This year, I have harvested 16 to 18 maund of peanut from a bigha of land, which is a boon for me.”  He said peanut is being sold Tk 1800 to Tk 2000 per maund, depending on its size, in the local market. As the peanut has a great demand in the markets, the wholesalers also purchase it directly from farmers’ home, he added.  Rina, a female farmer who cultivated peanut on three bighas of land, said: “I have harvested 18 maunds of the crop from one bigha of land. I spent about Tk 4,500 on hiring labourers, seeds, fertiliser and irrigation for cultivating peanut on one bigha of land. It gave me a return of about Tk 29,000 from a bigha of land.” According to RARS, farmers were supplied with BARI Chinabadam-8 and BARI Chinabadam-9 seeds, which are in big size. Principal Scientific Officer, RARS, Manjurul Kader said the farmers living along river catchments can cultivate peanut in the vast char land and earn a good profit. He said: “We are encouraging farmers, especially those rendered homeless by river erosion, to cultivate more peanut in the char areas for alleviating poverty.”