<i>Bumper production of vegetables</i>
At least 15,000 farmers are involved in vegetable cultivation and around 30,000 people are benefited
An agricultural researcher briefs a farmer at a vegetable garden on a hill slope at Adarsha Gram under Manikchhari upazila in Khagrachhari.Photo: STAR
The farmers of Manikchhari upazila achieved a bumper production of vegetables this season. Manikchhari Upazila Agriculture Extension Office sources said farmers are getting expected vegetables and good price due to fertile lands and favourable weather. The vegetables produced in the upazila are also supplied to other districts, they said. “The vegetables specially kakrol, bean, pumpkin, oram, garlic, ginger, snake gourd known as jhinga and lady's finger grown in bumper this year bringing smile on the faces of farmers,” they said, adding that farmers are quite happy as they are getting good prices of their products. Farmers said they are selling per maund of kakrol at Tk 800 compared to Tk 300 last year, oram Tk 600 compared to Tk 250, bean (Barbati) Tk 1,500 compared to Tk 1200, jhinga Tk 1,700 compared to Tk 1,200 while per maund lady's finger is being sold at Tk 2,000 which was Tk 1,000 last year. Prices of other kinds of vegetables are also high, sources said. Officials said at least 15,000 farmers are involved in vegetable cultivation and around 30,000 people are benefited directly or indirectly in this field. Manikchhari farmers cultivated 3,000 hectares of land for various types of vegetables in the upazila. At least 3,000 farmers are involved in oram (kachu) cultivation on 500 hectares of land while 515 farmers cultivated 200 hectares for kakrol, 6,000 farmers cultivated different summer vegetables on 1500 hectares of land. Besides, 1151 farmers cultivated bean (barbate) on 500 hectares land while over 3000 farmers produce various types of vegetables on around 500 hectares of land. Ahsan Ullah, a farmer from Adarshagram in the upazila, said they are getting good prices this year compared to last year. They incurred huge loss that year, he added. Rahmat Ali, a farmer from remote village Mohamuni, told this correspondent that farmers of his areas were involved in vegetables farming but they are not getting expected price due to poor communications and for lack of preservation facilities. Mongchinu Marma, a farmer from Lakpainang, said this year their profit will be little as they had to buy fertiliser at a higher price. Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO) Pranab Barua said because of unplanned cultivation on hill or hill slopes, soil erosion has been rising that fill up the rivers and causes flood each year. He said it might have a negative impact on the cultivation of vegetables in future. Mohammad Zahedul Islam, the upazila agriculture officer, said they have achieved bumper production of vegetables as agricultural officer helped them in all stages. TM Monjurul Islam, deputy director of district agriculture extension office, said due to soil fertility and favourable weather people get the bumper crops. But continuous use of pesticide may dampen their dreams, he said. The farmers should follow scientific method during cultivation to reap maximum benefit, he said.
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