Wax gourd cultivation by a farmers' group has made a stir in the remote haor area of Dharmapasha upazila of Sunamganj- FE Photo SYLHET, Feb 17: A band of farmers numbering 11 has achieved a remarkable success in cultivation of wax gourd (called Chal Kumra Bengali language) in a haor area of Dharmapasha upazila of Sunamganj district this season.
The farmers embarked on the farming initiative by bringing about 220 kathas of abandoned and fallow land in the haor areas under cultivation of the early variety wax gourd.
The abandoned land in remote Dharmapasha upazila of the district had been lying uncultivated for long.
Yield of the popular vegetable under the farmers' initiative has been very good this season while the price has also been fair upon the crop being an early variety one.
The farmers expect to get a double price of the crop if any calamity does not occur in the coming weeks.
Officials at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Dharmapasha upazila, said about 500 hectares of land had been lying abandoned for long in the upazila.
But this year various types of vegetables, mustard, and maize were cultivated on 350 hectares there.
The 11 farmers divided in two segments took the 220 katha (7.12 hectares) land on lease in Holdir haor for the combined wax gourd cultivation this season. Commercial farming of the vegetable has begun with the initiative for the first time in the area.
Farmer Rangu Mia and Alal Mia of neighboring Barhatta upazila of Netrakona district and three others made a good profit from gourd farming several years ago.
They came to Dharmapasha to lease land at a cheaper rate for the farming of the crop.
Accordingly they formed the farmers' group of 11 and success started coming there.
Wholesale traders
come from neighboring Mymensingh, Netrakona Sadar and Kalmakanda upazilas for bringing the item to Dhaka and their native areas.
Normally they sell wax gourd for Tk25 per piece at the wholesale market. A member of the group said that they had spent Tk0.8million so far for the farming project.
"We've already started getting return and hope to spend another Tk 0.2 million by April. But the total return would be about Tk2.2 million to Tk 2.5 million," the man hoped.
Paikurati UP chairman Mozammel Haque said, "The farmers got a bumper yield of wax gourd this season. We never thought the Holdir haor land would produce gourd this way."
Upazila agriculture officer Abdullah Al Masud said, "The farmers' group for the first time yielded wax gourd on the 220 katha abandoned fallow land. It's Sufola-1 variety, which can be harvested early. The profitable farming would spread in the coming years; since new farmers are contacting us."
Additional Director of the DAE, Sylhet division Bimol Chandra Shome said on Sunday remote Dharmapasha upazila was once a backward area. But the farmers in a group are very much interested now. Wax gourd farming has brought a good fortune for them.
Besides, the group farming helps them in marketing the crop at a higher price.
The crop is now being sent to neighbouring Mymensingh and Netrakona districts for its better marketing potential.
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