Rangpur farmers happy over bitter gourd production

RANGPUR, Oct 9: Cultivation of bitter gourd (Karolla) has brought smiles on the faces of the farmers in different upazilas under Rangpur district as they are getting financially benefited through its cultivation during the current season.

Due to low price of maize, paddy, jute and other crops many farmers of the region became eager in the cultivation of bitter gourd and other vegetables this year and its cultivation proved more lucrative than other crops.

Azizur Rahman (56) of Chowdhurypara village under Taraganj Upazila in the district told The Financial Express he brought one bigha of land under cultivation of bitter gourd this season and earned Tk 16,000 so far. He is expecting more dividends during the remaining part of the season. Many farmers of the upazila and other parts of the district have become able to overcome the curse of poverty by growing different varieties of vegetables including bitter gourd, he added.

Amirul Islam (50) of Tilokpara village under Mithapukur upazila in the district said, "I cultivated bitter gourd on my farmlands this season instead of paddy as the low price of paddy disheartened me last season," he said. He has also got satisfactory output of the produce so far.  

Besides, bitter gourd is also being grown abundantly at different upazilas of the district by using eco-friendly pheromone trap instead of harmful pesticide.

"I have cultivated bitter gourd on 40 decimals of my land without using any pesticides. After meeting up family requirements, I sell it. A number of farmer families in the village are engaged in producing vegetables in this way," said Mokhlesur Rahman of Jumakhanpara village under Ranipukur union in Mithapukur upazila.

"We do not use any insecticide to produce bitter gourd and other vegetables. Instead we use pheromone trap. Such vegetables are healthy, tasty and more nutritious," Shobhan Ali (40) of the same village under the upazila, told The Financial Express.

Expressing contentment a good number of farmers said it was difficult for them to afford the expenses of their family by growing paddy only; but cultivation of bitter gourd and some other vegetables is now giving them additional profit to ease their financial constraints. If the cultivators get interest-free loans, necessary help from DAE and other agricultural inputs, they will certainly be benefited by farming vegetables on large scale, they added.

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