Ten to eleven years ago Islam Mia inhabitant of village Charkawona in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj district started cultivating cotton for the first time.
He got a good yield and profit. For this greed, he cultivated commercially every year. He had faced loss of the last few years, but this year the lack of weather favorable rains and pest attacks have caused some hindrance to the cotton tree but it has yielded a desirable yield. Where about 200 to 250 maund of cotton can be found from 30 bighas of land.
In the Charkawona area of the upazila Brahmaputra river spread over and many of its lands are Islam Mias’. Despite cultivating different crops in the land of grazin, he has leased a further 20 bighas of land for cotton cultivation with a loan of one lakh taka and has cultivated a total of 30 bighas of land. Islam Mia is the only cotton farmer in the upazila. He cultivates cotton every year on short-term loans from the Cotton Development Board. He said that the Cotton Development Board spends a lot of money to encourage farmers. But no one cultivates cotton. If the price of cotton were good, the farmers of the crop would be more inclined to cultivate the cotton commercially.
Visiting this land, a large crop of cotton is cultivated in the fields, it is seen that white cotton is bursting on the trees three to four feet tall. It's like a flower garden in a white waterfall. Lightly touching and lifting them in the packing there are 5-6 women workers. Cotton farmer Islam Mia is right next to the land. Talking with him, he said that this year he cultivated cotton on 30 bighas of land. It will cost about Tk 4 lakhs to cover labor costs for seeding, weeding, fertilizers and pesticides land leasing and cotton lifting. Cotton cultivation takes six months.
Seeds are sown in the first week of July. After two to three months, the fruits begin to bloom. After about a month and a half, cotton is useful for lifting. Cotton is lifted three times from a single cultivation. He expects to get 200 to 250 maund of cotton from 30 bigha land. If cotton prices are good this year he will get profit. Therefore, that other farmers will be encouraged to grow cotton.
Cotton Officer of the Cotton Development Board, Dhaka Zone's at Pakundia Office Nazrul Islam said, Islam Mia was the only cotton farmer in Pakundia. He cultivates cotton on the guidance of the Cotton Development Board, Pakundia Cotton Office.
This year the weather has been a bit rough and the insect attack has suffered some damage but has yielded good results. He is optimistic that the farmers will benefit from this year's cotton cultivation. In addition, the price of cotton is assigned internationally. This year it has to be fixed from Tk2450 to Tk2500.
