Farmers of Cumilla inclined to cultivate gourds

CUMILLA, Oct 20: Cumilla Lalmai Upazila is famous for vegetable cultivation. A variety of winter vegetables are grown here throughout the year. One of them is gourds (Lau).

Like every year, the farmers have brought more lands under gourd cultivated. However, the local farmers said that the prices are better this time as compared to past years. There is a nationwide demand for gourds produced in Lalmai. Besides, the profit is more than the cost of gourds cultivation. So the local farmers are inclining to cultivate gourds.

According to local farmers, there is a huge demand for gourds in almost all areas of Cumilla district. The gourds cultivated in Lalmai is meeting the demand of the area. After that it is being supplied to different places of the country including Chittagong and Dhaka. Gourds cultivation is more profitable than other vegetables. Due to low production cost and high income, farmers are turning to gourds cultivation day by day.

Aminul Islam, a farmer from Lalmai area, said, "I have cultivated gourds on 52 decimals of land. I have spent 35 thousand taka on gourds cultivation. I have already sold gourds worth around Tk 90,000. I will be able to sell more gourds for about forty thousand taka".

Nur Mohammad, a farmer in the same area, said that it is easy to cultivate gourds as it is a hilly area. The cost of field maintenance is also low.

According to the local farmers, they sell the cultivated vegetables in Lalmai at the Nimsar market, the largest vegetable market in the district. Now the price of per piece gourd in wholesale is Tk 50.

Imam Hossain, a wholesale vegetable buyer, said, "I buy gourds from farmers and sell them in Dhaka and Chittagong." Excluding all expenses, I earn about ten takas per piece gourd. Cumilla gourds are in in great demand in Dhaka and Chittagong.

Surjit Chandra Dutt, Deputy Director, Department of Agricultural Extension, Cumilla, said the weather in Lalmai area is good for gourds cultivation. Moreover, the necessary agricultural inputs are readily available here. Farmers are cultivating gourds by taking advantage of these opportunities. The agriculture office is also providing regular advice to the farmers.

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