Homestead farming makes rural economy vibrant in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, June 10 (BSS): Homestead gardening has been meeting nutrition demands as well as making rural economy vibrant as most of the households are seen involved in farming vegetables and fruits in homestead and other vacant places in their catchment areas.
Everywhere in the region, including its vast Barind tract, Scores of grassroots people are cultivating vegetables, spices and fruits on homesteads and other fallow land near their abode round the year and changing their fortunes.
Muhammad Mohiuddin, a resident of Damkura village under Paba upazila, said he has set up a vegetable and fruit garden on around two decimals of fallen land around their house and get fruits and vegetables all the year.
After meeting the family demands, he has sold vegetables and fruits, including papaya, banana, kulboroi (plum), kamranga (star fruit), and earned around Taka 8,000 during the last one year.
He said the garden has become the main source of meeting their nutrition demands.
Piarul Islam, 46, another farmer of Phulbari village under Godagari upazila, said he has got the way of changing his fortune through homestead gardening of dalim (pomegranate) , bean, bottle gourd, tomato, radish, red amaranth, spinach, batishak, cabbage, garden pea, bush bean, brinjal, chili, onion and garlic.
"We are very much happy with the encouraging yield of homestead gardening," said Shaheda Begum, a farmer of Ishwaripur village, adding that it is helpful in improving the living and livelihood conditions of the villagers.
Belly Begum, 35, has become economically solvent through farming of vegetables on homesteads as its demand has been increasing gradually in the society.