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JHENIDAH, Dec 27: Maize cultivation is expanding in the district for its popularity among the farmers.
Every season cultivators make handsome profit from the crop amid favourable weather condition.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) set a target to bring some 14,925 hectares of land under maize cultivation but over 17,000 hectares of land in the six upazilas of the district have so far been brought under the production of the item.
A good number of growers said they have started growing maize instead of paddy to save cost, get good output and make high profit.
Md Sirajul Islam, a maize cultivator in Protappur village under Jhenidah Sadar, said he cultivated maize on four acres of land last and achieved a bumper yield.
The farmer said he also got good market prices that time.
"Per acre production was around 160 maunds. I had earned around Tk 90,000 from the sale of per acre production while I had to spend around Tk 30,000 as production cost."
"I had made a net profit of about Tk 60,000 from each acre of land", the farmer added.
Sub-assistant Agriculture Officer of DAE Kola Block under Sadar upazila Md Moinul Islam said, "Maize cultivation in the area is on the increase due to repeated bumper yield, low production cost and high profit."
The department provides all necessary support in this connection, the official added.
Sadar upazila agriculture officer Md Mofaqkharul Islam said, "Maize is a highly profitable crop. It is used in many ways and so it has a good demand in the market. As the produce is sold at lucrative prices, the cultivation is increasing fast."
GM Abdur Rouf, deputy director of DAE said maize cultivation is increasing in the district as it needs less irrigation than paddy. Its market price is also high."