Although farmers in Sariakandi upazila of Bogra have achieved a bumper harvest of foxtail millet (kaun) this season, many growers are unhappy over its falling market prices. The sharp decline in prices compared to last year has left farmers frustrated and uncertain about the crop’s future profitability.
The char areas of Sariakandi have long been recognized as a major hub for foxtail millet cultivation. In the past, large stretches of land across the river islands were devoted to the crop. However, in recent years, many farmers have shifted to more profitable alternatives such as chili, sweet pumpkin, and maize, encouraged by improved irrigation facilities and better market returns. As a result, the area under millet cultivation has gradually decreased.
Agricultural experts attribute the decline in cultivation mainly to lower yields and unstable market prices. Compared to other crops, millet generally produces fewer yields per bigha and often fails to provide attractive profits. Farmers usually cultivate the crop on land where irrigation facilities are limited, making production highly dependent on seasonal rainfall.
This year, favorable weather conditions and timely rainfall created ideal growing conditions, leading to an excellent harvest throughout the upazila. Farmers are currently busy harvesting and selling their produce. Many have already planted jute after completing millet harvesting.
According to the Sariakandi Upazila Agriculture Office, the cultivation target for the season was 1,515 hectares. Farmers surpassed that goal by cultivating millet on 1,520 hectares. Average production ranged between four and five maunds per bigha.
Foxtail millet is typically sown in February after one or two rounds of land preparation and harvested in May. The crop requires around 100 to 120 days to mature and needs relatively little care. Farmers generally conduct one or two rounds of weeding, while occasional irrigation can boost yields if rainfall is insufficient.
Despite the strong production, market prices remain a major concern. Millet is currently selling for Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,400 per maund in local markets, almost half of what farmers received last year.
Sona Mia, a farmer from Char Batiya village, cultivated millet on 12 bighas of land this season. He said the crop is often grown on land that would otherwise remain unused.
“Millet requires very little maintenance after sowing,” he said. “Thanks to timely rainfall, I harvested around five maunds per bigha this year. But I had to sell my produce for only Tk 1,250 per maund.”
He noted that farmers received between Tk 2,000 and Tk 2,200 per maund last year and argued that prices would need to exceed Tk 3,000 per maund for growers to earn satisfactory profits.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Ali Jinnah highlighted the crop’s nutritional value, noting that foxtail millet is rich in protein, dietary fiber, iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. While widely used as bird feed, it is also consumed in traditional foods such as porridge, khichuri, pilaf, and cakes.
Farmers say this year’s bumper harvest proves millet’s production potential, but sustainable cultivation in Sariakandi’s char areas will depend on securing better market prices in the future.
