The maize farmers in five upazilas of the district are expecting bumper yield of the crop this year due to favourble weather conditions.

They have cultivated maize even on abandoned land and are expecting windfall profit.

Sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Lalmonirhat said they had planned to cultivate maize on 15,000 hectares of land, but increased it to 25,000 hectares.

Jaldhar Sen, a farmer of bordering Dighaltari village in Aditmari upazila, said he has been cultivating maize on his land for the last seven years. "This year, I have

cultivated maize on 10 bighas of land and I expect toget280maunds.

He further said that he had spent Tk 3000 for maize farming on one bigha of land and expects to earn minimum Tk 12,000 from each bigha. "I will cultivate the crop on more land if I get agriculture loan from the bank, "the farmer added.

Mazid Miah, 55, of Dowani village in Hatibandha upazila said they spend less on irrigation, labour, and fertiliser for maize cultivation than for other crops.

"I got 104 maunds of maize from four bighas of land last year and I hope to get 105 to 110 maunds this year," Mazid said, adding that he sold one maund of

maize for Tk 460 last year.

Farmers Delowar Hosain, Naresh Chandra, Babul Miah, Sahed Miah, Rajoni Kanta Sen and many others at Bawra village of Patgram upazila said they have been earning a handsome profit by cultivating maize in the last few years. This crop has become the main crop at the village, they said, adding that the middlemen pay in advance for purchasing maize.

Safayet Hossain, deputy director of DAE in Lalmonirhat, said farmers will reap bumper output of maize this year due to good seeds and favourable weather conditions. They will also get expected prices in the local markets this year, he hoped.