Bagerhat: Sugarcane, once a hallmark of Bagerhat’s agricultural landscape, is making a strong comeback thanks to favorable weather, reduced soil salinity, and renewed interest from farmers and youth. Once widespread across the district, sugarcane farming had declined due to salinity concentration on soil. Salinity concentration is becoming normal with canal and river excavation and increased rainfall.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this year, sugarcane has been cultivated on 296 hectares of land across the district, with a production target of 12,265 metric tons for the current fiscal year. So far, 10 percent of the crop has been harvested. Officials and farmers are optimistic about meeting the production target if the weather remains favorable.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said that sugarcane has been cultivated on five hectares of land in Sadar upazila, 80 hectares in Mollahat upazila, one hectare in Rampal upazila, 20 hectares in Fakirhat upazila, 96 hectares in Kachua upazila, 60 hectares in Morelganj upazila, 30 hectares in Sharankhola upazila and 4 hectares in Chitalmari upazila.
Sugarcane farming is not just reviving a tradition but also contributing significantly to the rural economy. Local farmers like Nazmul Sheikh, who has cultivated sugarcane for 25 years, spent Taka two lakh this season on two acres of land and earned Taka four lakh from sales. Similarly, Mizanur Rahman spent Taka 80,000 on one acre of land and made Taka two lakh in return.