Rangpur: The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has set an ambitious target to produce 2,68,732 tonnes of winter wheat from 68,392 hectares of land across eight districts in Rangpur division for the current (2025-2026) Rabi season.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this initiative aims to surpass last season's production figures where farmers harvested 1,98,968 tonnes from 51,616 hectares in the Rangpur and Dinajpur agricultural regions.
A shortfall in the previous season's wheat farming target was attributed to the diversification of crops, with farmers opting to grow vegetables, maize, and other high-value crops on additional lands. For the current Rabi season, the DAE has segmented the target to include 56,188 tonnes of wheat from 15,535 hectares in the Rangpur agricultural region, covering the districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, and Nilphamari. The Dinajpur agricultural region, comprising Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, and Panchagarh, is expected to produce 2,12,544 tonnes from 52,857 hectares.
Farmers have commenced land preparation for wheat sowing following the Aman rice harvest. Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region, Agriculturist Md Sirajul Islam, noted that the sowing process will accelerate with the further harvesting of Aman rice. The interim government, through the DAE, is supporting small and marginal farmers by distributing high-quality wheat seeds and fertilizers as part of special agriculture incentives.
Efforts by the DAE, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), and other organizations are underway to ensure the success of the wheat farming program. These include ensuring the supply of high-quality seeds, the latest technologies, fertilizers, and other necessary inputs. Farmers are focusing on cultivating high-yielding wheat varieties such as 'Bijoy', 'Pradip', 'Sotabdi', and several BARI Gom variants using conservation agriculture technologies for enhanced production efficiency.
Md Mamunur Rashid, a PhD Fellow at Dinajpur Haji Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology, highlighted the adoption of conservation agriculture-based strip tillage and bed planting methods, which have increased wheat yields and reduced irrigation and labor costs. Previously, wheat production faced challenges from high temperatures and late sowing of seeds post-Aman rice harvest. However, the timely sowing of high-quality, disease-resistant, and stress-tolerant wheat varieties using cost-effective CA-based technologies has improved outcomes in recent years.
Rashid commended the interim government for its role in promoting the cultivation of high-yielding wheat varieties using advanced technology. Farmers in Rangpur Sadar upazila, including Lutfar Rahman, Akmal Hossain, Ariful Haque, Golzar Rahman, and Mohsin Ali, expressed their readiness to sow wheat seeds post-Aman rice harvest, reflecting the region's commitment to achieving the production target.