Bumper maize yield brings smiles to Dinajpur farmers

Farmers across Dinajpur district are celebrating a bumper maize harvest this season, driven by favorable weather, improved farming techniques, and attractive market prices.

Maize harvesting and threshing are currently underway in all 13 upazilas of the district. 
 
Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Md Afzal Hossain said farmers have significantly benefited from modern maize threshing machines supplied at subsidized rates.
 
These machines have reduced processing time, while the prevailing high temperatures have helped dry the harvested maize corn fast and efficiently. Authorities hope that all harvested maize will be ready for market by May.
 
Local farmers report both high yields and strong prices. 

Mokhshed Ali, a farmer from Bhaduria village in Nawabganj upazila, cultivated maize on two and a half acres of land this year. He said farmers are pleased to sell raw maize from the fields at Taka 30-32 per kilogram. Later, wholesalers after drying that maize, sell it at a price of Taka 38-40 per kilogram.
 
 The strong market demand is being fueled by both domestic buyers and international companies, including firms from Thailand, which are purchasing maize in bulk from the district. Traders are also involved in buying, drying, and storing maize for future sale. 

Businessman Shamsuzzaman Manik said he stocks corn every year and can earn an additional Tk 8-10 per kg at the end of the season.
 
Some farmers are also adopting storage strategies, selling their produce later when prices rise, further increasing profitability. This trend has encouraged more farmers in Dinajpur to shift toward maize cultivation.
 
The Agriculture Department had initially set a target of cultivating maize on 76,200 hectares of land this season. However, by March 31, cultivation exceeded expectations, reaching 78,900 hectares-surpassing the target by 2,700 hectares.
 
Farmers attribute the success to both favorable climatic conditions and improved agricultural practices. 

Another farmer Monirul Islam said that due to proper fertilizer application, irrigation system, and use of improved seeds, the yield has increased to 40-50 maunds per bigha.
 
 
Cultivation costs ranged between Taka 12,000 and Taka 14,000 per bigha, but the high yield and good market price have ensured strong profits. As a result, maize is increasingly being viewed as a highly profitable crop in the region.
 
With abundant production and steady demand, Dinajpur's maize sector is poised for continued growth, offering optimism for farmers and traders alike.