RANGPUR, Apr 10: The ridge gourd (jhinga) cultivators in different areas of the district are expecting an abundant yield of the vegetable in this current season.
Visiting some areas of the district this FE correspondent found harvesting of the early-cultivated jhinga had already begun.
Due to early harvest growers are also getting handsome profit from its sale in markets.
Presently, one kg of ridge gourd is selling at Tk 100 to Tk 110 in local markets.
Sirajul Islam, a grower of jhinga at Nabdiganj area in Pirgachha upazila said he prefers farming vegetables due to high profit in comparison with many other crops. He cultivated jhinga on 40 decimals of land this season.
During the last few years he has been getting a satisfactory yield as well as good profit from farming of the vegetable, he said. He is expected to expand his vegetables farming next year, he added.
Nurul, another vegetable grower of Palichara area under Rangpur sadar upazila told FE a good number of peasants of his area are showing their interest in the farming of ridge gourd than the cultivation of other crops owing to huge profit.
He has cultivated the vegetable on 45 decimals of land this season and is expecting good yield, he further said.
In addition, ridge gourd is being cultivated in many areas under the region using eco-friendly pheromone trap instead of detrimental pesticides. Gradually, such method is getting popular among the peasants, sources said.
Buyers also like such toxin free vegetables, sources said.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur official sources said satisfactory prices as well as huge demand have encouraged the cultivators to cultivate the vegetable on a large scale this season.
The DAE is giving the growers necessary advice in this regard so that they can enhance yield of vegetables including ridge gourd, sources added.
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