A WAVE of renewed optimism is sweeping across Meherpur’s farming communities as cotton cultivation expands sharply this season, driven by fair market prices, improved yields, and rising farmer confidence.
The district has recorded a significant rise in cotton farming, with total cultivation now exceeding 4,500 hectares, up from 3,600 hectares last year, marking an increase of around 935 hectares. Farmers are currently receiving Tk 3,500 to Tk 4,000 per maund, a price level that has restored profitability after losses faced by many growers in the previous season.
Cotton farming in Meherpur is being carried out under two administrative zones of the Cotton Development Board.
According to Cotton Development Board, cotton cultivation in Meherpur has expanded to 4,539 hectares this season, with 2,214 hectares in Meherpur sadar and Mujibnagar under the Chuadanga zone and 2,325 hectares in Gangni upazila under the Kushtia zone.
Officials said that the expansion reflected growing farmer confidence, supported by hybrid cotton varieties that deliver higher yields and improved resilience against climate variations.
Farmers across the district said this season brought renewed hope after previous losses due to low prices.
Abdur Rashid, a farmer from Amjhupi village, said that production costs are around Tk 15,000–16,000 per bigha, while expected yields range between 18 and 20 maunds per bigha.
‘If prices remain stable, we expect earnings of Tk 70,000 to Tk 75,000 per bigha,’ he said, expressing optimism about a profitable season.
Cotton Development Board officials said they were actively working with farmers through training programs, field demonstrations, and regular advisory services.
Ershadul Haque, unit officer of the Dhankhola unit in Gangni upazila, said farmers were being trained on modern cultivation techniques, pest control, and disease management to ensure better productivity and reduced crop losses.
‘We are maintaining close field-level supervision and providing continuous support to farmers,’ he said.
Chuadanga cotton development board cotton unit officer Shoyen Chandra Barman said that five operational units under the Chuadanga office had been managing cotton cultivation in Meherpur sadar and Mujibnagar upazilas, adding that cultivation in these areas had increased compared to the previous year.
Kushtia zone cotton development officer Rakibul Hasan said that cotton cultivation had offered several agronomic and economic benefits.
He noted that cotton seed lint had been used in medical applications, while cotton plants had served as a source of fuel.
He added that decomposed cotton leaves had contributed to soil fertility and that the crop had placed relatively low demand on topsoil nutrients, thereby reducing fertiliser requirements for subsequent crops.
He further said that row spacing in cotton cultivation had allowed for more efficient land use, as the entire field area had not been fully occupied by the crop. Cotton contributes to soil health through organic residue and has a relatively lower impact on soil nutrient depletion. Its stalks are used as fuel, while seed byproducts have industrial and medicinal applications.
In addition, crop spacing allows farmers to utilise land more efficiently through intercropping, improving overall agricultural productivity.
Agricultural experts said that the growing shift toward cotton could further strengthen its position as a key cash crop in the region, boosting rural income and diversifying the agricultural economy in southwestern Bangladesh.
