Bengal agriculture department on Sunday organised a one-day workshop and training for farmers with a view to promote maize cultivation across 12 districts in the south. The cultivation of maize as an alternative crop could increase farmers’ annual income at a time purchasing power in rural areas took a hit. Inaugurating the programme on Sunday, state agriculture minister Asish Banerjee said it was the government’s intention to promote maize cultivation throughout south Bengal as it was a high-yield and high-earning crop. The sources said Bengal had increased production of maize to 3 lakh hectares from 88,000 hectares in 2011-12.