Veg cultivation on dried riverbed gets momentum

RAJSHAHI, Feb 13 (BSS): Farming of crops in charlands (riverbed) has opened up new door of success as most of the growers are now making profit by dint of their bumper production of winter vegetables including some cereal crops like wheat and maize.
In order to attain financial solvency, the farmers were seen tilting towards large-scale commercial vegetable farming in vast char areas in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts staging a silent revolution in this field.
While visiting to some of the remotest and hard-to-reach areas, this reporter witnessed success of many of the farmers cultivating cauliflower, cabbage, potato, brinjal, bottle guard, tomato and onion.
In addition to homestead gardening, the farmers cultivated vegetables on more lands this year than previous years as climatic condition remains favourable despite a little bit high price of some inputs like fertiliser and seed.
After meeting the local demands, the surplus vegetables are being supplied to different parts of the country including Dhaka benefiting the consumers in general.
"I have cultivated cauliflower and cabbage on an acre of land by spending Tk 30,000. I am very much hopeful of sale-proceeds valued at least Tk 80,000 within this harvesting season," said Nabir Uddin, a farmer of Bazubagha Natunpara village under Bagha upazila.
Some other farmers including Monirul Islama and Abul Khayer of Amadpur village also revealed the similar dreams with smiling faces.
Chars emerging in the Padma and Mohananda are bringing fortune to many farmers in Paba, Godagari and Bagha upazilas of Rajshahi and Sadar and Shibganj upazilas of Chapainawabganj districts during the last few years.
Principal Scientific Officer of Regional Wheat Research Station Dr Ilias Hossain said many farmers were seen showing success in wheat and maize farming in the charlands after the best uses of the modern technologies.