Its cultivation increased from about 50 hectares in 1997 to 1,675 hectares this year. With a bumper production in the current season, the acreage may be doubles next year, agriculture officials say.

Favourable weather yielded 12,562 matric tons this year, more than double the target of 5,500 tons.

The average yield per acre was also good. It was around seven tons per hectare.

Maize cultivation is gaining popularity in the district mainly due to an assured market, the officials said. Moreover, it needs less irrigation and nursing.

Out of the seven upazilas, 975 hectares were brought under maize cultivation in Gobindaganj, 350 in Palashbari, 297 in Fulchari and 53 in other areas.

The production was 3,000 tons last year against a target of 3,800 tons.

This is also changing people's food habit. More and more people are taking maize instead of wheat now.

Abdur Rouf, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Extension Department (AED) said farmer can harvest 25 to 30 maunds of maize from his one bigha of land at a cost of around Tk 2,500 and earn Tk 7,000 easily. Paddy cultivation brings Tk 4,500 at a cost of Tk 3,000 and wheat around Tk 3,000.

Maize has an assured market as it is also used as a poultry feed and the leftover is uses as a fodder, Rouf said.