Shariful Islam, a farmer of Kodamshahar under Godagari Upazila of the district, has started soybean farming for the first time in Barind tract experimentally.
This year he is cultivating the cash crop on 20 bigha of land with supervision of Barind Center of On Farm Research Division of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI).
“We have provided seeds of Bari Soybean variety along with other farming technologies and strategies to him. We are expecting yield of 4 to 5 mounds from per bigha of land,” said Saifuzzaman, Scientific Assistant of the center.
Market price of the crop is Taka 3,000 to 3,500 per maund.
He said the farming needs less use of fertilizer and insecticides. There is no need of irrigation. So, there has been a scope of more profit in less cost in water-stress condition.
Al Mahmud, another Scientific Officer, said the farmer is expected to be benefited more through such farming than other crops.
In future, farming of soybean will be more alongside other crops as more other farmers are likely to come forward towards this farming.
He said there is an enormous prospect of expansion of soybean farming in the Barind tract comprising the districts of Rajshahi, Chapainawabgonj and Naogaon. -BSS, Rajshahi
