GOPALGANJ, Sept 19: Red lady papaya cultivation is gaining popularity among farmers of Kasiani upazila in the district due to huge profits.
Farmers say the papaya has proved a profitable vegetable crop in this region.
Nayab Mollah, a farmer of Pona village under Kasiani upazila, said that he cultivated papaya origin 'Red lady' on 85 decimal of land current year.
The growth condition of the papaya variety is satisfactory, he added.
"If the condition remains unchanged, I will get about 255 maunds of papaya from my field, which market price is about Tk 306,000. Per maund of papaya is being selling at Tk 1,200."
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Gopalganj, a total of 48 hectares of land have been brought into 'Red lady' papaya cultivation in the district.
About 1,200 farmers, including males and females, are involved in its farming. A production target of 35,565 tonnes has been set, the sources said.
Sanjib Kumar Ghose, sub-assistant agriculture officer (SAAO), Gonapar block no. 16 under Kasiani upazila in Gopalganj, told the FE that red lady papaya variety is more profitable. It is a crop of short duration. So, its cultivation is increasing day by day this region, Mr Sanjib said.
Md Mominur Rahman, 35, another farmer of village Ghonapara under Kasiani upazila in the district, said he cultivated red lady papaya on 40 decimals of land this year.
But, he cannot take care properly on his papaya field due to shortage of money. Even though he got a benefit about Tk 144,000 and his production cost is Tk 75,000 only.
Mr Rahman further said growers in this region are facing some problems like financial constraint and absence of marketing facilities. If the growers got support this facilities, but they got huge benefit from this papaya produce, to sale the markets, farmer Mominur said.
Kazi Ezajul Karim, Upazila Agriculture Officer (UAO), Kasiani upazila in the district told the FE that a total of 10 hectares of land have been brought into papaya cultivation in Kasiani upazila.
About 250 farmers are involved in this papaya farming with a production target of 7,410 tonnes), the sources said.
A farmer can harvest the papaya variety only within 140 to 145 days from the papaya cultivation.
If papaya growers get easy and short-term loan from banks or any economic sectors, they can more cultivate it and earn huge money every year.
"Our country can export papaya and earn huge foreign currency," the UAO added.
alimuzzaman81@gmail.com