Mohammad Jisan took to the fields with a deep interest in farming from childhood. For the past 10 years he has grown early vegetables and leafy greens, raising early varieties of many kinds season after season. At the very start of this season, the young entrepreneur has sold Tk 31.4 lakh worth of early vegetables.

Mohammad Jisan, 25, is the son of Nur Mohammad of Tarachh Para village in ward No 1 of Chakaria municipality, Chakaria upazila, Cox's Bazar. He is the eldest of four siblings.

Jisan's farming life began when he was very young. In 2009, as a third-grade pupil, he started helping his father in the fields. Watching his father work, he grew attached to farming and gradually learned its various aspects.

In 2015, when he was in class eight, he became directly involved in farming. Over time he learned more deeply about cultivation methods, soil care and seed selection. Despite the risks, he started growing early vegetables because of the good market prices, including radish, cucumber, bottle gourd, yardlong beans, cauliflower, coriander leaves, bitter gourd and aubergine. He gradually found success and became known locally as an agricultural entrepreneur.

He now grows these crops on about 20-22 bighas of leased land, at an annual rent of Tk 15,000-20,000 a bigha. At the start of this winter season he sold Tk 31.4 lakh worth of early vegetables.

His family's support and encouragement gave him the courage to move forward. He also takes guidance on diseases and other matters from experienced farmers and from the Facebook group "Krishoker Pran Krishi Poribar".

Jisan said this year he sold Tk 5.2 lakh of produce from coriander grown on 4 bighas. Three bighas of coriander intercropped with chilli sold for Tk 2.3 lakh. Four bighas of cucumber brought in Tk 8 lakh, 4 bighas of bottle gourd Tk 4.5 lakh, and two successive radish crops on 3 bighas Tk 5.4 lakh.

He has sold another Tk 5-6 lakh worth of other crops, including bitter gourd, yardlong beans, aubergine and red amaranth. Some produce is still in the field, and his income will rise further when it is sold, he said.

"After all costs, there is a good profit every season," the young entrepreneur said. "Early farming is risky, but it has become a passion. I never leave land empty; before one vegetable is finished I am planning the next. Through this farming my family's finances are much better than before. At one time we had nothing. By taking risks with early vegetables I have reached where I am today."

On his methods, he said he follows separate preparation and techniques for each crop. Mulching is used when preparing fields for cucumber, bottle gourd, bitter gourd and aubergine, which also raises yields. For radish he raises the land a little and makes firm beds so water drains properly and the radishes grow well. For coriander and yardlong beans he makes lighter beds. Through planned land preparation, modern methods and crop-specific care, he gets good yields every year.

Asked about the costs and yields of early farming, Jisan said, "Yields are usually a bit lower in early farming, and costs are comparatively higher, because disease attacks are more frequent and certain methods have to be used to grow successfully. But profit is another matter. Early vegetables usually sell at high prices. If the yield is good and there is market demand, the profit is higher too. In other words, profit depends mainly on yield and market demand."

On his future plans, he said that alongside vegetables he plans to grow early watermelon, sammam (melon) and flowers, and he has grown some on a trial basis this year.

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