Rangpur: During the just-ended 2024-2025 Rabi season, farmers have produced 3,908 tonnes of six varieties of pulses in all five districts of Rangpur agriculture region. After getting a better yield, farmers are happy to get good prices for all varieties of pulses produced this time.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) had initially set a target to produce 4,353 tonnes of six varieties of pulses from 2,923 hectares of land for the region. However, farmers managed to bring only 2,697 hectares of land under pulse cultivation, which is 1,656 hectares less than the fixed target.
Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region, Agriculturist Md Shafikul Islam, explained that crop diversification and the cultivation of maize, chillies, and vegetables on more land across the region impeded achieving the specific cultivation target for pulses. The target included production of various pulses, but actual cultivation fell short in several categories.
Farmers managed to cultivate lentil on 1,122 hectares, 'Khesari' on 1,249 hectares, 'Arhar' on 99 hectares, gram on 34 hectares, mungbean on 168 hectares, and cowpea on 25 hectares. The total production of pulses reached 2,697 tonnes against the fixed production target of 4,353 tonnes for this Rabi season, including 1,626 tonnes of lentil and 1,786 tonnes of 'Khesari'.
Islam noted that the DAE and other organizations provided necessary training, technologies, and inputs to assist farmers in the pulse farming program. Dr. Md Abu Sayem, Deputy Director at Burirhat Horticulture Centre in Rangpur of the DAE, sees potential to increase pulse production through proper crop diversification and adoption of advanced cultivation systems.
Grocery shop proprietor Mizanur Rahman reported selling newly harvested pulses at local markets at various prices, reflecting the successful yield. Farmers from different villages, including Abul Hossain and Muhammad Abdus Sattar, expressed satisfaction with both production levels and market prices.