Kushtia District Correspondent: Farmers in Daulatpur, Kushtia are achieving considerable success in cotton cultivation. As cotton is a profitable and cash-generating crop, its production is increasing every year. Especially due to the cultivation of hybrid and high-yielding varieties, cotton production in this border upazila, Daulatpur, is rising significantly. Along with good yields, the assurance of fair prices is increasing the importance of cotton among farmers day by day. Under the supervision of the Cotton Development Board, farmers receive regular training and technical assistance, and experts believe that cotton cultivation in this region will expand even further.
Daulatpur has long been known for tobacco cultivation. However, many farmers have turned away from tobacco and shifted toward cotton, an economically profitable crop. Now vast fields in Pragpur, Adabaria, Mathurapur, and Daulatpur unions are adorned with cotton plants. In the current season, cotton has been cultivated on 2,434 hectares of land in Kushtia district. In Daulatpur upazila, farmers have planted hybrid, high-yielding varieties such as Rupali-1, White Gold-1, and White Gold-2, from which they expect to produce 15–17 maunds (approx. 560–635 kg) of cotton per bigha.
Mostak Ahmed, a farmer from Dharmadah village in Adabaria union, said that due to excessive rainfall this year, he had to sow seeds multiple times. With fertilizer and pesticide prices nearly doubling compared to last year, the cost of cultivating cotton per bigha has risen to around 20,000 taka. Another cotton farmer, Naharul Islam, said that cotton is a long-term crop that takes 7 to 8 months to grow. This year too, he expects a yield of 15 to 17 maunds per bigha. Last year he sold cotton at 4,000 taka per maund, and because production costs have increased this year, he demands a higher market price for cotton.
Sheikh Al Mamun, the Cotton Development Officer of Kushtia, said that in the current season, a target was set to cultivate cotton on 2,450 hectares of land across Daulatpur, Mirpur, and Bheramara upazilas. Of this, cotton has been cultivated on 2,434 hectares. A total of 2,050 farmers have been provided assistance under agricultural incentives. He stated that Daulatpur has the highest number of cotton farmers in the district. Since farmers are receiving fair prices for hybrid, high-yielding varieties, cotton cultivation has increased compared to last year. To encourage cultivation, farmers are also being provided with high-quality seeds at fair prices along with training. Experts believe that expanding cotton cultivation as a cash crop will enhance self-reliance and strengthen the agricultural sector.
