Bumper groundnut output brings smile to Manikganj char people

The farmers of Daulatpur, Shibalaya and Harirampur upazilas of Manikganj are happy with the bumper production of groundnut as harvesting of the cash crop has started on the barren char lands during the current Kharip-1 season.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials said the groundnut is generally cultivated on the sandy land.

Some local farmers experimentally started to cultivate groundnut on their barren lands, which would remain fallow in the char areas for the last few years, they said, adding that seeing their success, a number of farmers now are cultivating groundnut in the vast char areas of the Jamuna and the Padma rivers.

The char farmers are getting fair prices of the crop between Tk. 2000 and 2400 per mound as per its quality, while it has high demand in the local markets.

DAE office sources said a total of 2,520 hectares of land has been brought under groundnut cultivation during the Kharip-1 season in the district compare to 2003 hectares last year.

Rifazuddin, one groundnut cultivator of char Kalikapur of Baghutia union of Daulatpur upazila, said he had cultivated groundnut on two bighas of land this season and was getting expected production and prices.

Mizanur Rahman Tota, Union Parishad member of Baghutia, said groundnut cultivation is gaining popularity in the char areas as it grows on the sandy barren lands and needs no irrigation.

Now groundnut has become one of the important cash crops for the char people, he said, adding groundnut is cultivated twice during winter and summer seasons in a year.

Md. Shahjahan Ali Biswas, Deputy Director of DAE, said the sandy lands of char area are suitable for groundnut cultivation and its cultivation is gaining popularity in the three upazilas of Daulatpur, Shibalaya and Harirampur day by day.

Every year the cultivation of groundnut is exceeding its fixed target, he added.