March 30, 2011
 

Bangladesh expects bumper wheat yield

Farmers and agronomists are predicting a bumper output of wheat in Jessore and Narail districts in this season.

Good temperature and availability of water have aided wheat plants to grow well in the sandy-loamy soil in this area, Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials said.

This season, approximately 6,480 hectares of land have been purchased under wheat growing in the two districts; 3730 hectares in Jessore and 2750 hectares in Narail. The target output volume was 7,913 hectares to give an output of 22,157 tonnes; 13,779 tonnes from Jessore and 8378 tonnes of wheat from Narail, according to DAE.

The production target most likely would be surpassed easily as farmers are expecting to get 31-32 maunds (one maund = 37.5 kg) of wheat per acre (100 decimals) of land and harvesting has already begun in some areas, DAE sources said.

Farmers in different areas of the two districts said they faced difficulties in procuring quality seeds at the start of the season as the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation failed to supply a large enough amount of seeds, but they overcame the situation by using domestically preserved seeds and purchasing seeds from private companies at higher prices.

Wheat growing is gaining popularity in Jessore and Narail districts because of wheat's rising demand, good prices, simple growing process and lower production cost than that of IRRI-Boro paddy, said farmers and DAE officials.

"Wheat cultivation requires only three times irrigation. It is easier and more profitable than paddy cultivation. Production cost of wheat on one acre of land is BDT11,000 (US$152) at the maximum while it needs around BDT18,000 (US$248) to cultivate IRRI-Boro crops," said Fotiq Mukherjee, of Shighasolpur union in Narail Sadar upazila.

Dr Sunil Kumar Roy, regional project manager of Second Crop Diversification Project in Jessore region, stated that favourable weather conditions, adequate supply of essential fertilisers and pesticides and sufficient training are the reasons behind the bumper production of wheat.

Farmers are getting more interested in growing wheat because of its rising demand and lower growing cost than paddy, Narail Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer, GM Ruhul Amin said.

The farmers of Jessore and Narail districts mostly use shatabdi, prodeep, shourav, gourab and bijoy ranges of wheat seeds, DAE sources said.