Flood makes tomato farming costlier

Tomato cultivation at Baniary, a village famous for vegetable cultivation, in Nazirpur upazila under the district, has been delayed this year due to the flood that visited the area around two months ago.

"Normally we plant tomato saplings in our garden between July and August. But this year, flood damaged all of our tomato saplings when we planted it first time," said Juran Bala, a tomato grower of the village.

"To get more profit, we plant tomato early. But this year we have lost the chance," said Md Sujan Mollah, another farmer there.

Visiting the village recently, this correspondent found that both men and women are taking care of the tomato plants in their fields. Others are planting new saplings.

Flowers have already come at some plants.

"This year we had to plant tomato plants two times as our first plants got damaged. It has increased our production cost," said Sunil Akarshon.

Farmers expect that within one and a half months, they will be able to collect tomato from their garden.

"Every year we can sell tomato in the marker at this time. But this year it is going to be one and a half months late," said Ujjal Akarshon.

"Over 1000 farmers have planted tomato on around 200 acres of land at Baniary village. This year tomato farmers have faced serious troubles due to natural calamity," said Bijan Krishna Howlader, sub assistant agriculture officer in Nazirpur upazila.

A large number of farmers at Baniary village grow tomato and other vegetables, especially on the grounds around fish enclosures. Wholesale vegetable buyers from different areas buy vegetables from there and transport them to different areas of the country.