Hybrid bitter gourd cultivation gains popularity among Jaypurhat farmers
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Our correspondent
JAYPURHAT, Nov 08: Cultivation of hybrid variety of bitter gourd (korola) has become very much popular among the farmers of Jaypurhat.
The hybrid TIA brand bidder gourd is cultivated in villages Vanurkanda, Chakrapara, Kashira, Hossen Nagor, Abadpukur under Akkelpur upazila, village Hatsahore, Battalli, Nischinta under Khetlal upazila and Jamalgonj area under Sadar upazila.
In this season, the vegetable crop is being cultivated in 7 hundred acres of land in three upazilas. Comparatively long shape and delicious, this variety is in good demand.
At Akkelpur upazila market, every day a big haat of bitter gourd takes place. Traders from various districts of the country come to buy the vegetable. Trucks loaded with bitter gourd are dispatched to other districts every day including Dhaka.
Akkelpur Upazila Agriculture Officer Nuruzzaman said farmers are interested to grow the item as it is very profitable and we also support them.
Only in 4 to 5 months period, the farmers produce 100 to 120 maunds of bitter gourd on every bigha land.
Farmers Babu and Mostafa of Vanurkanda village said Tk 10 to 12 thousand is spent to produce it maintaining fertiliser, seed, insecticide and irrigation expenses. One can earn a profit of Tk 40 to 50 thousand from one bigha.
But, some poor farmers can't grow it for lack of fund and seek government loan with easy interest.
Jaypurhat Department of Agriculture Extension Deputy Director Abdul Hai said Jaypurhat is a district of surplus production of crops. But there is no cold storage here. For this, the growers are deprived from preservation facility.
If the government take necessary steps, the growers can be more benefited and the country can earn a lot of foreign currency exporting the vegetable.
JAYPURHAT, Nov 08: Cultivation of hybrid variety of bitter gourd (korola) has become very much popular among the farmers of Jaypurhat.
The hybrid TIA brand bidder gourd is cultivated in villages Vanurkanda, Chakrapara, Kashira, Hossen Nagor, Abadpukur under Akkelpur upazila, village Hatsahore, Battalli, Nischinta under Khetlal upazila and Jamalgonj area under Sadar upazila.
In this season, the vegetable crop is being cultivated in 7 hundred acres of land in three upazilas. Comparatively long shape and delicious, this variety is in good demand.
At Akkelpur upazila market, every day a big haat of bitter gourd takes place. Traders from various districts of the country come to buy the vegetable. Trucks loaded with bitter gourd are dispatched to other districts every day including Dhaka.
Akkelpur Upazila Agriculture Officer Nuruzzaman said farmers are interested to grow the item as it is very profitable and we also support them.
Only in 4 to 5 months period, the farmers produce 100 to 120 maunds of bitter gourd on every bigha land.
Farmers Babu and Mostafa of Vanurkanda village said Tk 10 to 12 thousand is spent to produce it maintaining fertiliser, seed, insecticide and irrigation expenses. One can earn a profit of Tk 40 to 50 thousand from one bigha.
But, some poor farmers can't grow it for lack of fund and seek government loan with easy interest.
Jaypurhat Department of Agriculture Extension Deputy Director Abdul Hai said Jaypurhat is a district of surplus production of crops. But there is no cold storage here. For this, the growers are deprived from preservation facility.
If the government take necessary steps, the growers can be more benefited and the country can earn a lot of foreign currency exporting the vegetable.