Md Selim (35), a farmer in Bhola, has amazed people by growing a new variety of aubergine (brinjal) for the first time in the district. He is delighted with a big yield, with each aubergine in his field weighing 1 to 2 kg.

Because the aubergines look like bottle gourds (lau), people in Selim's village have named them "lau begun". Farmers and local people are crowding in every day from his village and nearby unions and villages to see them.

Md Selim, of Shantirhat village in Ward 7 of Char Samaiya union, Bhola Sadar upazila, has been farming for about eight years. Every winter he grows local aubergine, tomato, cucumber, cauliflower, cabbage and soybean on 65 decimals of land, but without much success. This year, though, he has succeeded with the BARI-12 aubergine variety.

"I grew local aubergines every year but could not make a profit," Selim said. "This year the agriculture department gave me BARI-12 aubergine seed and fertiliser to grow. Out of my 65 decimals, I planted BARI-12 aubergines on 20 decimals, and tomato, cauliflower, cabbage and soybean on the rest.

"The 20 decimals cost me Tk 2,000-3,000. Within three months and 10 days, the aubergines grew to 1 kg, some to one and a half kg and some to 2 kg. When I first took them to the wholesale market, the buyers were amazed. On the first day I sold them for Tk 60 a kg. Now they are selling for Tk 40-50 a kg at wholesale."

He said he has sold aubergines worth Tk 12,000 so far, and what remains in the field should fetch more than another Tk 20,000. "Before planting I did not realise it would be so profitable. I hope to grow these aubergines on one acre next year."

Md Hasan Warisul Kabir, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Bhola, told Jagonews that BARI-12 aubergine has been grown in Bhola district for the first time this year. The department gave 200 farmers in Bhola's seven upazilas free seed and fertiliser to grow it on a trial basis, including 50 farmers in Bhola Sadar upazila. On inquiry, he said, they learned that every one of the farmers succeeded.

Seeing their success, many more farmers are contacting the department to grow BARI-12, he said. "We hope several thousand farmers will grow this variety in the coming days."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.