Abu Hanif Bhuiyan, a farmer in Akhaura upazila of Brahmanbaria, is growing a hybrid bottle gourd by traditional methods and without chemical pesticides. For the past week he has been selling gourds from a trellis on just 25 decimals of land beside his house.
The farmer, from Rajmangalpur village in Moniyonda union, began about two months ago. Preparing the land, buying seed, planting seedlings, fencing and weeding have cost him about Tk 15,000 so far.
Hanif said that with regular care the vines flowered about 45 days after planting, and the gourds were ready to eat 10 to 12 days later. Each gourd sells for Tk 50 to 55. Local buyers and vegetable traders come to the field to buy them directly.
He has sold more than Tk 4,000 worth so far. Given the fruit already on the vines, he expects to sell more than Tk 60,000 worth after meeting his family's needs, unless a natural disaster strikes. White flowers now cover the trellis with green gourds hanging beneath, and he spends mornings and afternoons tending the plot.
Akhaura upazila agriculture officer Md Masud Rana said bottle gourd needs comparatively little labour and gives a good yield, and farmers in the upazila are profiting from growing it commercially alongside other vegetables. The upazila agriculture office keeps in regular touch with farmers and gives advice as needed, he said.
Local people say Hanif's plot shows that planned cultivation, regular care and direct sales can bring a good income from vegetables on a small plot without pesticides, and neighbouring farmers are now showing interest in bottle gourd.
Reporting: BSS, as published by Agricare24
Photo: Forest & Kim Starr / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Source: Agricare24
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