Gazaria Records Bumper Maize Harvest with Better Prices
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Farmers in Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj have recorded a bumper harvest of maize this season, along with favourable market prices, bringing joy and financial benefit to cultivators.
According to local farmers, maize was sold at Tk 900 to Tk 1,000 per maund last year, while this year the price has risen to Tk 1,050 to Tk 1,100 per maund. Due to lower production costs and higher returns, interest in maize cultivation is increasing among farmers.
Data from the Upazila Agriculture Office shows that maize was cultivated on 1,770 hectares of land in Gazaria this season, which is higher than last year. Among the eight unions of the upazila, cultivation has increased particularly in Guagachhia, Bausia, Imamapur, and Tengarchar unions.
A field visit revealed farmers busy with threshing and drying maize, with many drying corn in their courtyards. Middlemen were also seen negotiating prices while visiting farmers’ homes to purchase maize directly.
Farmers say one of the key advantages of maize cultivation is that almost every part of the crop is usable. The green leaves are used as livestock feed, while the dry stalks and cobs are used as fuel. As a result, land previously used for boro rice cultivation is increasingly being shifted to maize farming.
Farmer Ashraf Hossain Dewan from Madhya Bhaterchar village said he cultivated maize on six bighas of land this year, spending Tk 10,000–12,000 per bigha. His fields produced around 180 maunds of maize. With the current market rate of Tk 1,050–1,100 per maund, he has earned a good profit. On Thursday afternoon, he was seen drying maize in the sun with his helpers.
Meanwhile, farmer Majeda Begum was seen harvesting mature maize in Tengarchar area and storing it in sacks by the roadside.
Gazaria Upazila Agriculture Officer, Agricultureist Md. Faisal Arafat Bin Siddique, said favourable weather conditions and modern farming methods have contributed to the bumper yield this year. He added that better market prices have also satisfied farmers.
He further said that the profitability of maize cultivation is likely to encourage increased production in the region in the coming years.
