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April
16, 2000
Gopalganj,
Apr 15 (UNB)- A massive program has been taken up for groundnut
cultivation in all thanas of the district this season.
Agriculture
Extension Department (AED) sources said some 25,000 acres of land in
various unions of Sadar, Tungipara, Kashiani and Mukshedpur thanas
have been brought under groundnut cultivation.
Groundnut
on 20,000 acres of lands was cultivated in the district in the last
year but the farmers could not get desired harvest due to adverse
weather condition, the sources added.
When
contacted, the Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department
said the weather was favourable this year when 15 to 20 maunds
groundnuts are expected to be produced per acre land.
Some
growers said groundnut sells at Tk 300-350 per maund at the initial
period of the season but the price goes up to Tk 500-600 after
three/four months.
The
growers said cultivating groundnut could not profit them, as they have
to pay loans borrowed from moneylenders by selling groundnut at a
throwaway price.
The
farmers suggested financing groundnut cultivation by Agriculture
Extension Department and Bangladesh Agriculture Development
Corporation because private money lenders were taking away the lion
share of the profit.
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