A new horizon has opened for agriculture in Cumilla, where cotton farming has begun for the first time in the district. Stepping away from the paddy, wheat, vegetables and other conventional crops grown for so long, an enterprising farmer has taken up cotton, and the Cotton Development Board has stepped in to help the effort succeed.

Cotton has been planted on a trial basis on a small plot at Rajarkhola in Bijoypur union of the district's Sadar Dakshin upazila. The initiative is led by local farmer Abu Taher.

On the morning of 15 August, Cumilla's first cotton cultivation was inaugurated on Abu Taher's land at Rajarkhola Paschim Kachhar in Bijoypur union, with technical assistance and incentives from the Cotton Development Board.

According to the Cotton Development Board, if the trial in Cumilla succeeds, there are plans to introduce cotton on a wider scale in the region next season. Growing cotton in Cumilla for the first time is a groundbreaking step; if it succeeds, it is hoped to open a new horizon in agriculture and create a new source of income for farmers.

Farmer Abu Taher said nobody had ever grown cotton in this area or in Cumilla before. "I was afraid at first, but the Cotton Development Board's support and training encouraged me. The officers from Dhaka gave me seed of three varieties: CB Hybrid-01, DM-04 and Rupali-01. They will give chemical fertiliser and pesticide later. If I get a good yield on these 33 decimals, I will grow more."

Agricultural experts say cotton farming can play an important role not only economically but also in keeping the environment and soil in balance. Farmers would profit more, in particular, if cotton could be extended to fallow land.

Rezaul Amin, executive director of the Cotton Development Board at headquarters, said cotton production is still far below domestic demand, so large amounts have to be imported every year. This dependence can be reduced by extending cotton to new areas. The board noted that Cumilla's climate and soil show promise for cotton. An office of the Cotton Development Board will soon be set up in Cumilla, which will benefit cotton farmers. Various vegetables can also be grown on the same land alongside cotton, so farmers can profit from several crops for the same cost.

Present at the sowing of the trial seed were chief cotton development officer SM Abdul Baten, headquarters project director Dr Harun Or Rashid, and Sadar Dakshin upazila agriculture officer Mohammad Junayed Kabir Khan, among others.

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