Maize cultivation is expanding rapidly in the haor areas of Kishoreganj as farmers turn to the crop for higher profits compared with traditional boro rice farming.
Farmers in the region are increasingly adopting maize as an alternative crop before the boro season because of its lower production costs, higher market demand and relatively stable prices.
Maize plants are also helping meet fuel and livestock feed needs in the haor areas, making the crop more attractive to local farmers.
Over the past several years, interest in maize cultivation has grown steadily across the char lands and silted fallow fields of the district’s haor region.
Agriculture officials said more than 1,000 additional hectares of land have been brought under maize cultivation this year compared with the previous season.
Farmers said the production cost for maize cultivation ranges between Tk20,000 and Tk25,000 per hectare, while the harvested crop can be sold for around Tk40,000 to Tk45,000.
The crop is harvested before the monsoon season, allowing farmers to avoid the risk of early floods that frequently damage boro rice in haor areas.
Improved transport links in the wetlands have also increased the number of maize buyers, enabling farmers to obtain better prices while reducing transport costs.
Farmers say maize cultivation also helps address seasonal shortages of livestock feed and fuel in the haor region during the monsoon months.
Minhaz Uddin, a farmer from Gopdighi village in Mithamoin Upazila, said maize matures earlier than rice, reducing the risk of losses from early floods.
“Maize produces higher yields than rice in many fields, and the profit is also greater with lower production costs,” he said.
Another farmer from the same village, Hafizur Rahman, said he cultivated maize on two acres of land this year.
“I had to irrigate the field only once, and the yield has been very good. Rice does not perform well on this land, so maize has become a better option,” he said, adding that he plans to increase the area under maize cultivation next year.
Agriculture officials are encouraging farmers to cultivate maize on char lands and other fallow areas across the district.
Department of Agricultural Extension Kishoreganj Deputy Director Sadikur Rahman said maize cultivation is gradually expanding because of its higher yield and profitability.
He said maize has been cultivated on 11,853 hectares of land in the district this year.
