TANGAIL, Nov 24: The farmers of Jamuna char areas in Bhuapur Upazila here are busy cultivating groundnut. This crop is now popular to them as they got bumper yield and fair price of the produce last year.
The water of the Jamuna River has dried up in many places, giving rise to sandy chars.
The farmers are sowing seeds of groundnut through hard toil from morning till evening. The soil of sandy char is suitable for groundnut farming. After about three months, the farmers will harvest the yield. The farmers cultivated groundnut on more lands this year.
While visiting recently, the farmers were found busy cultivating groundnut in Gobindasi, Arjuna, Chartarai, Charbharua, Balarampur, Kuthiboyra, Rayer Basalia, Ramai, Basikdal, Rulipara, Gobindapur, Rampur and Digrichar areas of Bhuapur Upazila.
While talked, farmers said they are earning much cultivating groundnut. It is a nutritional food and meets demand of oil. The farmers feed their cattle with the tender groundnut leaves. Besides, less fertiliser and pesticide are required for groundnut farming.
Farmer Md Rafiqul Islam said, "We are busy cultivating groundnut to recoup the loss incurred on us by last year's flood. It requires less cost and cultivation time. The cost of groundnut farming in per bigha is about Taka 5,000 to 6,000. The yield in per bigha is about seven to eight maunds. After meeting all costs, the profit is about Taka 8,000 to 10,000."
Farmer Siraj Ali of Rampur Village in Gabsara Union said, "I cultivated groundnut on nine bighas of land last year and got good yield and fair price. This year I cultivated groundnut on about 15 bighas of land. If the weather is favourable, I hope to get bumper yield."
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Ziaur Rahman said groundnut was cultivated on about 1,800 ha of land in Jamuna char areas. This year the farming target was exceeded and groundnut was cultivated on about 2,000 ha of land. If the weather is favourable, a bumper yield is likely this year.
