Farmers in the Rangpur agriculture region of Bangladesh are celebrating a highly successful groundnut harvest during the 2022-2023 Robi season. With an impressive production of 11,734 tonnes, they have surpassed expectations and achieved remarkable results. Market reports indicate that farmers are selling their freshly harvested groundnuts at record-breaking rates, ranging from Taka 5,200 to 5,500 per mound (around 40 kilograms), resulting in substantial profits. Despite cultivating groundnuts on 653 hectares less than the target, farmers managed to exceed the fixed production goal by 506 tonnes, demonstrating their skill and dedication.
This success can be attributed to the expanding cultivation of high-yielding groundnut varieties developed by the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI). The profitability of groundnut cultivation in the region has attracted farmers, with an average profit of Taka 80,000 per acre after deducting farming costs of around Taka 25,000. The increasing demand for groundnuts in the food industry has driven farmers to expand cultivation, particularly in char (riverine) areas and mainland regions. Overall, this bumper groundnut harvest has brought economic prosperity and joy to the farming communities in the Rangpur region.