Gourd seed produced in courtyard

Farmers in rural areas of the district are producing quality gourd seeds, as well as seeds of other vegetables, at home due to uncertainty in getting quality seeds in the local market.

Farmers now produce gourd seeds on their own as they also use the calabash of gourd as basket or for making ektara (monochord), a traditional musical instrument. Farmers produce gourd seeds from end of February to mid-March and they preserve them carefully. They plant the gourd seeds between mid-October and mid-November.

Anjoli Rani, 42, a housewife of Chandrapur village in Kaliganj upazila, said she produces gourd seeds at home every year to ensure quality seeds for the next season.

Subol Chandra Das, 55, a farmer of Chaparhat village, said they get 200 to 400 grams of seeds from each gourd, which are better in quality than the market seeds. “After fulfilling our need, we sell the remaining seeds to other farmers at fair price,” he added.

Sheikh Mahmud, 65, of Hajiganj village in Aditmari upzaila, said he produces seed of different crops, especially vegetables, every year.

Nayon Chandra Sen, 55, a folk artiste of Bamonerbasa village, said he makes 30 to 35 monochords every year and sell them at Tk 150 to Tk 250 per piece. “I purchase each calabash of gourd at Tk 30 to Tk 35 from local farmers,” he added.

Upazila Agriculture Officer in Aditmari Biplob Kumar Mohanto said the practice of producing seeds of crops, especially vegetables, at home is traditional and very good, but very few farmers follow this practice as it needs constant care and labour. He added that they help farmers to get good quality seeds from the market.