RAJSHAHI, June 24 (BSS): Farmers have started growing chemical-free vegetables, using organic manure like vermi-compost, in the region including its vast Barind Tract.
By dint of diversified interventions, gardening around homesteads in the current season using organic fertilizer has started gaining ground with production of different fruits and vegetables in safe and hygienic ways.
Marginal farmers and the poor people in the region are mostly engaged in this venture by making the best use of spaces around their homes over the last couple of years.
Varieties of vegetables are available in the local markets round the year because of regular farming of vegetables along with other seasonal fruits and crops.
They are getting expected output and are also earning profit after meeting the cultivation costs.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) have been providing necessary support alongside need-based training and required inputs to the farmers to grow safe vegetables for their own consumption and extra earnings by selling those.
DAE and BARI officials said use of vacant spaces for producing fruits and vegetables has been seen as potential means for gradual development in the life of the downtrodden in the region comprising 25 upazilas of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts.
Farmers at Rajabari, Palpur, Mohishalbari and Premtali villages under Godagari upazila; Chowbaria, Bargachhi, Katakhali and Kharkhari villages under Paba upazila and Nandangachhi and Halidagachhi villages under Charghat upazila are producing vermi-compost with earthworms and cow dung.
"I cultivated bottle gourd, cucumber and coriander on 16 decimals of land beside our homestead by using organic fertilizer this year, and I got expected production," Ali Hossain, a farmer of Baroipara village, said.
