Vegetable farming makes Narsingdi char people self-reliant

NARSINGDI, Nov 23 (BSS): More than 1,000 poor families in 20 char villages of Sadar, Belabo and Raipura upazilas of the district have achieved economic self-reliance through vegetables farming during the last few years.

Before taking up vegetables farming as the means of their subsistence, at least half of them were in abject poverty in the erosion prone sandy chars on the Meghna, Brahamaputra and Arialkha river basins in the district.

Now they are leading a completely changed life with three time meals a day, sanitary facilities and their children are going to schools and madrasas.

Char land people have been gaining financial benefit through vegetable cultivation which is the main cash crops. The farmers of the areas urged the government for their logistic support and supply modern equipment among the cultivators, locals said.

The poor farmers are cultivating vegetables on the vast tracts of sandy char areas and growing various vegetables such as Korola, chichinga, borboti, potato, sweet potato, tomato, bean, brinjal, patol, jhinga, cucumber, pumpkin, onion, garlic, cauliflower, ground nut and chilli.

Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Suvash Chandra Gayan said with the necessary help and logistic support of DAE and several NGOs, huge quantities of vegetables are being produced in 20 char villages of the upazilas.