Lady’s finger farming brings smile to farmers in Gopalganj

GOPALGANJ, June 24: Ladies' finger variety 'SR-Century' (hybrid) has created a new hope among farmers of Sadar Upazila in the district.
As many as 154 hectares of land have been brought into the okra cultivation in the district with a production target of 1,960 tonnes this year, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Prodip Halder, sub-assistant agriculture officer (SAAO) of Raghunathpur union, said about 7.50 hectares of land have been brought under the okra cultivation in the union where 49 farmers are involved in its farming.
The farmers got nearly 1,875 maunds of ladies' finger which market price is about Tk 23 lakh.
Mono Bain, a farmer of village Silna under Raghunathpur union of Sadar Upazila, said he cultivated 'SR-Century' on 30 decimal of land this season and its production is satisfactory.
"If the climate remains unchanged, I will harvest 31 maunds of okra from my field which market price is about Tk 37,000.
One maund of ladies' finger was being sold at Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,300, Mr Bain said.
Mafroza Akther, upazila agriculture officer (UAO) in Gopalganj, has told the FE that 'SR-Century' has created a hope among the farmers in this region because of its high production. So, growers are more interested in this vegetable farming.
It is more mentioned that a total of 48 hectares of land has been brought into the ladies' finger cultivation in Sadar Upazila with a production target of 480 tonnes this year, the UAO added.
Mahabub Sheikh, a farmer of village Singarkul under Raghunathpur union of Sadar Upazila, said he cultivated 'SR-Century' on 22 decimal of land this year at a cost of Tk 8,000.
If the weather remains unchanged, I will get 23 maunds of ladies' finger which market price is Tk 28,000. One kilogram of ladies' finger is being sold at Tk 30.
Abdul Kadir Sarder, deputy director, Agriculture, Gopalganj, told the FE that ladies' finger is farmers-friendly cash crop vegetable and it is high yielding variety.
Both soil and weather are favourable for cultivation of the ladies' finger in this region, the DD added.
A farmer can harvest the okra only within 110 days from its farming.