Local conglomerate Pran has set a target to collect 30,000 tonnes of cassava from farmers this season at a rate of Tk 8,000 to Tk 10,000 per tonne.

Cassava is a root crop, which is popularly known as `Shimul Alu' in Bangladesh, and it is planted in fallow lands and hilly areas with a little cost and labour. Pran's contractual farmers have harvested cassava in Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Sylhet, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Tangail, Mymensingh, Jamalpur and Cumilla in around 5,500 acres of land this season.

Previous year, the company harvested 4 tonnes of cassava in an average from one acre of land. But this year, it expects to get 6 tonnes per acre.

Farmers collect cassava from November to May and its seeds are planted after the completion of the collection. Till December last year, Pran collected 5,000 tonnes of cassava.

Now about 2,000 farmers are harvesting the crop under Pran's contract farming, the company said in a statement.

"Pran has a cassava processing plant in Habiganj Industrial Park under its sister concern Sylvan Agriculture, where 60,000 tonnes of cassava can be processed in a year," said Kamruzzaman Kamal, marketing director at Pran-RFL Group.

"Pran is manufacturing starch from Cassava and the starch is now being widely used in garment, pharmaceuticals and processed food industries."

Cassava can also be used as a boiled food and animal foods, he said. "So, people can cultivate cassava in fallow lands around their house and it will help our economy."

In 2014, Pran introduced contract farming of cassava and it started conducting training programmes to encourage people to grow the new crop, said Mahatab Uddin, chief operating officer at Pran Agro Business.

The company also gave financial assistance and provided instruments and seeds at a low cost, he said.

"A growing number of farmers are now showing interest to cultivate cassava, as the crop gives high return."

The government has taken a project to increase the cultivation of cassava in fallow lands and hilly areas, Kamal said.

"The initiative is playing a vital role to extend the cultivation of the crops. Now more publicity is needed to encourage farmers for yielding the corps."