Samespur village lies in Burichang upazila of Cumilla. With fertile sandy-loam seedbeds in the Gomti river basin, Samespur's seedlings are at the top of the list for vegetable growers across the country, and the village is known by that alone. As far as the eye can see in its fields there are only vegetable seedlings, rows of beds of many kinds swaying in the wind. The village has been famous for seedlings for more than half a century. Sales usually begin in the month of Shraban each year, but because of recent bad weather, production and sales started late this time.

In Samespur, some small growers were preparing land, some watering seedlings, others lifting seedlings for sale or tying them into bundles. Wholesalers stood by, counting and taking delivery. Such scenes play out from dawn to dusk every day.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), more than 700 farmers in Cumilla district are now producing seedlings on about 20 hectares. Besides Samespur, seedlings are produced on a large scale in Daklapara, Kalakachua, Kabila and Nimsar in Burichang, and seedling production and sales also go on in Chandina, Debidwar, Barura, Chauddagram and other upazilas. Directly and indirectly, more than 5,500 people are employed.

The agriculture department expects about Tk 20 to 22 crore worth of seedlings to be sold this season. With good quality and high yields, demand for the area's seedlings is at a peak nationwide. Seedlings of tomato, chilli, cauliflower, cabbage, bottle gourd, pumpkin and other vegetables go to Chattogram, Noakhali, Feni, Chandpur, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Habiganj, Narayanganj, Dhaka and other districts. Green chilli, cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, aubergine, bottle gourd and sweet pumpkin seedlings are most in demand.

Each seedling sells for Tk 1 up to a maximum of Tk 2.50. Growers buy them and plant them to raise crops. When seedlings are sold within 20 days of sowing and a bed is emptied, seed is sown again. The work runs every year from the month of Bhadra through Ashwin, Kartik and Agrahayan. At the end of the seedling season, farmers grow tomatoes, potatoes, aubergines and other rabi crops on the same land.

Kamal Hossain, a seedling grower in Samespur, said: "Tomato, green chilli, cauliflower, cabbage and tal begun seedlings have already started selling. Wholesalers are taking them from the field edges before they even reach the market. Because the weather was unfavourable, production and sales started late this time. I hope to make a good profit this year."

Md Ali Hossain, a seedling seller in Daklapara beside the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, said he came into the trade following his father and grandfather and has been producing and selling vegetable seedlings for 30 years. After losses in the past two years because of floods and weather, he expects a good profit this time.

Md Jahangir Alam, owner of Sathi-Bithi Nursery in Samespur, said: "My father, Yusuf Ali, started producing seedlings here in the British period. Inspired by him, many people are now in the seedling business. I have been in this occupation for about 40 years. Samespur's seedlings are number one in the country, and we keep working to maintain quality. At least Tk 6 to 8 crore worth of seedlings are sold in our area every year."

Lokman Hossain, who came from Faridpur to buy seedlings, said: "Cumilla's vegetable seedlings are of improved varieties and give good yields, which is why I came so far. I have been buying seedlings here for about 25-30 years. But seedling prices are a bit higher than in other years."

Bazlu Mia came from Brahmanbaria. "Every year I take seedlings from this area and sell them in various markets in my district. Demand is huge because Cumilla's seedlings yield well, and you can earn good money selling them. That is why I have been buying and selling Samespur seedlings for 40 years," he said.

Burichang upazila agriculture officer Afrina Akter said: "We regularly give technical advice and support to farmers producing seedlings. Training programmes are also running under the upazila agriculture office to raise production and maintain quality. Frequent rain this time raised fears of some initial losses, but if the weather stays favourable we expect a good yield by the end of the season."

Mizanur Rahman, deputy director of the DAE in Cumilla, said: "Cumilla is one of the country's leading districts for seedling production. Farmers here produce quality vegetable seedlings, which is why farmers from all over the country rush to buy from them."

"We give farmers comprehensive support with regular training, seed selection, pest control and the use of modern technology. At present more than 700 farmers are producing seedlings on about 20 hectares in the district. About Tk 20 to 22 crore worth of seedlings are expected to be traded this season," he said.

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