Jashore farmers attain success in lettuce cultivation

BENAPOLE, Apr 20: The farmers of Sharsha Upazila of Jashore have achieved a remarkable success in the cultivation of foreign vegetable lettuce.
This year, lettuce has been cultivated in some areas of Ulashi Union of the upazila.
Sharsha Upazila Agricultural Extension Officer Tarun Kumar Bala says local farmers are getting interested in cultivating safe high-value foreign new varieties of crops.
The ancient Egyptians first discovered lettuce from weeds. Later, it has become popular with the Greeks and Romans because of its oil-rich seeds.
Gradually, Europe and North America have dominated the lettuce market.
Various types of seasonal vegetables are being cultivated on the agricultural land of Jadunathpur (Harikhali) block at Panburi village in Sharsha Upazila.
Farmer Lipi Khatun said she cultivated lettuce on one bigha of land. Land should be well prepared for lettuce cultivation. Lettuce can be cultivated in two ways.
Directly-sown seeds are sown in seed beds and seedlings of appropriate age (one month old) are planted in the original soil. In this case, the distance from row to row is 12 inches and the distance from seedling to seedling should be kept at 8 inches.
Another farmer, Imdadul Haque, of South Burujbagan village of Sharsha Union says, "The lettuce we grow here is green rapid variety. All kinds of advice and cooperation are being given from the upazila agriculture office for the cultivation of this foreign lettuce.
However, these seeds are available in Dhaka's Siddique Bazar.
The seeds have to be bought at a high price. Lettuce becomes edible within one and a half months after planting.
Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Mrs. Sultana Parveen says although lettuce is cultivated throughout the year in winter countries, seeds can be sown only during 'rabi' season from October to February in Bangladesh.
Lettuce cultivation has started in Sharsha, she said.
The agriculture officer believes that farmers will benefit greatly if they can create a local market for lettuce through promotion campaigns.
Rokunuzzaman, a lettuce grower, said that because the common people have little idea about the use of lettuce leaves at the local level, the sales are a little low, but they are sold as pieces in Jatrabari, Shyambazar and Kawranbazar in Dhaka.
Lettuce leaves can be sold at Tk 10-50 per piece.
Cultivation of this leaf does not cost much. Labour wages, tillage, fertilisers, pesticides and other incidental expenses are covered by the mastery.
And because all twelve months are suitable for cultivation, the cultivation of lettuce has increased here along with other vegetables.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Deepak Kumar Saha said under the Sustainable Agriculture Extension Project in Jashore region, lettuce has been cultivated on 100 bighas of land in the upazila as a demonstration of its production.
Local agriculture office has given all kinds of support for lettuce cultivation.
"Apart from this, if anyone wants any advice and assistance, we are willing to give it."
Dr Habibur Rahman Habib, a specialist at Satkhira Sadar Hospital, said, "Lettuce contains a lot of vitamins A, B and C". So, it is a very beneficial balanced diet.
Nutritionist Rebecca Sultana Shilpi of Sharsha Upazila said lettuce leaves are usually eaten in salads, burgers and sandwiches. Lettuce can be eaten both raw and cooked. In addition to various vitamins, it has very low calories.
Lettuce is in great demand in the global market as a side dish and garnish in many Chinese restaurants in various Chinese restaurants.
The demand for lettuce is very high, especially in Middle Eastern countries.
Lettuce leaves which are rich in oil resources are used in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Qatar.
Its leaves are eaten with interest in almost every meal list by goodies in daily life.

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