Maize cultivation becomes a better substitute for Wheat cultivation

Thakurgaon district comes to mind regarding the highest cultivation or production of wheat. But the fact that the farmers of this district have been losing interest in wheat cultivation for several seasons is evident by reviewing the cultivable land and the amount of production. Both have been on the decline for five years. Wheat cultivation has decreased in the last five years in about 16 thousand hectares of land in the district. On the contrary, farmers are inclined to cultivate maize. As a result, maize cultivation has increased to 13,060 hectares of land in the district in 5 years. Farmers and agriculture officials say farmers are losing interest in wheat cultivation due to low production, labor crisis, lack of good seeds, and hostile weather. In contrast, irrigation is lower, and production is higher in maize cultivation.

According to the Thakurgaon office of the Department of Agricultural Extension, the target for wheat cultivation in the district this year (2022) was 46,450 hectares of land; 45,192 hectares have been cultivated. Two thousand two hundred fifty-six hectares less than the target. The production target is 194,000 MT.