The wheat farmers in Kurigram district are expecting a bumper yield of wheat due to favourite weather condition this year.

The farmers are being interested in the wheat cultivation here due to low cost and high profit. But most of them are cultivating wheat in small space in the traditional method.

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Kurigram has fixed 6,700 hectares of land as a target for cultivating wheat with a production of 23,920 tonnes in the district while farmers are cultivating wheat in 6,705 hectares of land this year.

The DAE sources said the wheat cultivation has been increased here as farmers found its bumper yield and good price last years.

Majibur Rahman, 50, a wheat farmer of East Debattar village under Rajarhat upazila of the district said, “I have been cultivating wheat for last 12 years getting a good profit from the crop. This year I have cultivated wheat of Sonalika variety in 30 decimals of land, even though I cultivated in 40 decimals of land last year. Last year I sold the produced wheat at cost of Tk 24,000 while I expended around Tk 6,000 for preparing land, labourers, irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides. I was benefited than other crops.”

“I have sown the wheat seeds in the Bangali month of Agrahayan this year expecting a good yield due to favourite weather. I think — it may be harvested to the upcoming month,” Majibur said.

Another wheat farmer Lutfar Rahman Master, 54, said, “I have cultivated wheat of Kanchon variety in 21 decimals of land and am expecting its bumper yield. The wheat is one of the less-irrigation consuming crops and it has a great demand in local markets in all times of year. Wheat can be produced at the half cost of paddy.”

“I am happy over its good yield and well market price. After harvesting wheat, I shall go to cultivate jute in same land,” Lutfar said.

Biplob Kumar Mohanta, Deputy Director of the DAE, said, “As there was no recurrence of blast disease here, we expect the farmers shall get a good yield of 3.57 tonnes of wheat per hectare of land. Farmers are taking turn to the maize cultivation as it is cultivated in all seasons, even though farmers get a bumper yield of wheat and its good price.”

“We have been providing wheat seeds and fertilizers to the wheat farmers in the district every year. This year also we have enabled to reach the seeds to the farmers in due time, such that they can produce the crop well. Our agriculture officials of the concerned areas are advising them on modern technology including implementation of chemical fertilizers and pesticides,” the DD said.