Bumper yield of almonds in char area of Teesta in Rajarhat
Md. Abdullah Al Mamun Rajarhat (Kurigram)
There is a possibility of bumper yield of almonds by farmers across the chars that have emerged on the banks of Teesta River in Rajarhat, Kurigram.
The green crops growing at the intensive care of farmers . In the char area of Teesta River, more than a hundred farmers have the potential to produce 332 metric tons of almonds in Rajarhat Upazila alone from 175 hectares of land.
Farmers are spending their time busy taking care of the planted almond trees.
Tahir Uddin, a farmer from Gatiasham village of Gharial Danga Union of the upazila, said, "I am planting almonds on 1 acre of land." This will cost me 60 to 70 thousand taka, if the yield is good, I will produce forty maunds of almonds per acre. If the price of almonds in the market is good, I will make a profit. Aminul Islam, a farmer from the same village, said, "I am planting almonds on 4 acres of land. I am buying planting seeds for 10 to 8 thousand taka.
The total cost of planting, including pesticide spraying workers, is about 60 to 65 thousand taka per acre. If there is a bumper yield of almonds, I will produce forty maunds of almonds per acre. If the price of almonds is sold at 35 to 4 taka per maund, then there will be a profit, if it is sold at 2000 to 2500 taka per maund, it will be a disaster. Many people have not been able to sell last year's almonds yet, the price of those almonds is now 25 hundred taka, the rest is known to God. However, currently, there is a lot of pest attack on almonds, no medicine is working, but! The insects are getting fatter after being sprayed. Bidyananda Union farmer Hasen Ali said, I am planting almonds on two and a half acres of land by collecting seeds at the prevailing price. If the yield and price are good, I will be profitable.
Rajarhat Upazila Agriculture Officer Saifunnahar said, almonds are being cultivated on 175 hectares of land in the Teesta char area. Planting almonds on that land after harvesting the winter crop also reduces the cost of the farmer. If the yield is good and the crop is not damaged in the early floods, three hundred and thirty-two metric tons of almonds will be produced in the char area.
