Bumper black gram yield in sight in Tangail, Natore

TANGAIL, Dec 18: Officials at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office in Tangail and growers are expecting a bumper mashkalai or black gram yield this season.
DAE official sources said about 600 hectares of land were brought under mashkalai cultivation in the district.
Mashkalai grows well in the Jamuna and Dhaleshwari-washed area in the district.
Growers are satisfied over the present weather condition and timely supply of necessary inputs by the local agri offices.
Sources said low production cost and high return are the main reasons for the popularity of mashkalai.
Char Pouli, Gabshara, Choubaria Jhunkair Char are well-known for producing quality mashkalai in the district, sources added.
A good number of farmers said mashkalai has already proved a profitable crop in the area.
The DAE provided high-yielding BARI-3 mashkalai seeds and fertilisers to the growers.
The department also arranged training courses on mashkalai cultivation.
Mokhles Miah of Char Pouli village under Bhuapur upazila said local growers were expanding the farming of mashkalai for high profit.
Akbar Ali of Gabshara village under Bhupur upazila said he had been cultivating mashkalai on 50 decimals of land for the last couple of years.
Last year he earned Tk 10,000 from it. He is expecting more this season.
Deputy Director of DAE, Tangail, Abdur Razzaque said farmers in char areas produce a large amount of mashkalai of the district.
Growers are now use high-yielding seeds and apply modern techniques for a good yield, he added.
According to our Roving Correspondent in Natore, black gram growers in the district are expecting a bumper output this season.
Officials at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in the district said around 500 farmers were engaged in growing black gram on a vast tract of land.
Deputy Director of DAE Rafiqul Islam said black gram cultivation is a profitable venture.
Repeated bumper production and fair market prices encouraged the grassroots growers to cultivate the item commercially, the official added.
Samsul Islam of Boraigram upazila said a good number of farmers attained financial solvency by growing the crop.
The cultivator said the areas around the Chalan Beel are known for growing quality black gram. Growers here do not need to go for extra irrigation, fertilsers and pesticides.
Sub-assistance agriculture officer of DAE Azizur Rahman said mashakalai farming is expanding in the area for high profit. Growers are also happy over the market prices.
Around 40 to 45 maunds of mashakalai production can be possible from a hectare of land, the official added.