NATORE, Mar 29: The sandy bed of the Padma River in Lalpur Upazila of the district has come back to life as farmers are now cultivating various crops including sunflower on its bed.
A beautiful scene is prevailing in the area. Farmers of this area are very happy as they are getting a good profit by selling their produce.
According to Lalpur Upazila Agriculture office, there are 18 beds adjacent to the river under Beelmaria Union, Rasulpur and Char-Jajia in the upazila. The total cultivated land is 3,686 hectares (ha) of these beds.
These included sugarcane on 1,563 ha, wheat 841 ha, red lentil 482 ha, Dhania (coriander) 18 ha, ground nut 478 ha, vegetables 121 ha, onion 30 ha, and Kalajira 5 ha.
Besides, there are fruit gardens on 79 ha of river bed including 17 ha of plum, 79 ha of mango, 15 ha of guava, 9 ha of malta and 2 ha of lemon.
Farmer Muntaz Ali said, the cultivation of crop is very easy on beds because of fertile land; but the irrigation cost is excessive. If BADC can provide it, they will be highly gainers, he added.
Farmer Mustak Ali said, he has cultivated maize on two bighas of land. He expects good yielding if weather remains favourable. Another Rauf Malitha said, he has cultivated onion thinking that its price is high in the market. But at present the price is less. So he is worried now.
Pritom Kumer Hore, Agriculture Officer-Lalpur Upazila, said, they are always with farmers and giving them necessary advice and technological assistance as per needs.
The sunflower is being cultivated on the river bed widely under the modern agriculture extension project.
Sazzad Hossain, Executive Engineer BADC (Irrigation)-Natore said, there is no electricity in that land; that is why they cannot provide electricity there. The solar system irrigation facility can be provided under the PANASI project, he added.
