65,000 acres remain uncultivated in CHT every year
Around 65000 acres of land remain uncultivated in the three hill districts every year for lack of agricultural inputs and farmers' knowledge of modern technology.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said if these arable lands could be brought under cultivation additional crops worth about Tk 30 crore could be produced per year.
Sources said most of the arable lands remain uncultivated in Bilaichhari, Borkol and Langadu upazilas of Rangamati, Panchhari, Dighinala, Mohalchhari and Ramgarh of Khagrachhari, Roangchhari and Thanchi of Bandarban district.
Locals said despite having their own land many farmers cannot cultivate them for high prices of agri-inputs and absence of bank loans.
They said aush, aman, boro paddy, wheat, sugarcane, ginger, turmeric and various types of vegetables could be produced abundantly if the uncultivated lands were brought under cultivation.
Meanwhile, a scheme has been taken up to bring 2,244 hectares of land under ginger cultivation in seven upazilas of Bandarban district in the current season with an output target of 28,050 metric tonnes.
According to the officials at the Department of Agriculture Extension, farmers will be able to achieve bumper production of ginger this season due to favourable weather.
They said cultivation of ginger is increasing in the district each year as the farmers are earning windfall profit due to its high quality.
Meeting the local demand, ginger is also being supplied to other parts of the country including Chittagong, they added.
Many farmers of the district have become self-reliant by cultivating ginger with the patronisation of the government, the officials said.
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