GAIBANDHA: A total of 510 hectares of land in all seven upazilas of the district were brought under black gram (Maskalai) farming during the current Robi season, reports BSS.
The department of agriculture extension has set a target to farm black gram on 510 hectares of land this year with the production target of 510 tonnes.
Of the total, some 30 hectares of land were cultivated in Sadar upazila, 80 in Sadullapur upazila, 50 in Palashbari upazila, 130 in Gobindaganj upazila, 50 in Sundarganj upazila, 40 in Shaghata upazila, and 130 in Phulchhari upazila.The farmers of the district are expecting a bumper production of black gram this season.
Favorable weather, distributing quality seed, available fertilizers and other agri inputs by the government are the main reasons behind the expectation of bumper production.
Sazu Miah, a farmer of Sandua village under Kishorgari union of Palashbari upazila, said he has farmed the variety on 3 bighas of land this season and is expecting an income of Taka 36,000 against the production cost of Tk 15,000.He would farm more two bighas of land next year if his expectation was fulfilled this year, the farmer also said.
As the growers are getting desired output and expected profit from the farming, many farmers have been showing their interest in farming of black gram for last the few years, he added.
Additional deputy director-crop of DAE Showkat Osman said 5 to 6 bighas of black gram field could be cultivated with the water that is needed to irrigate only one bigha of boro land.
A farmer could earn income Tk 10,000 to Tk 12,000 from a bigha of land against the production cost of TK 5,000 if the weather condition remains favorable till the harvesting period, he added.