Farmers in Feni are hoping for big profits from growing the Udayan Plus tomato variety. With good market prices and relatively low labour and costs, many are turning to this high-yielding tomato, as seen in fields across the district's upazilas.

The Feni district office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said the tomato target for the district this rabi season was set at 300 hectares. So far, 250 hectares have been planted with various varieties, 70 hectares of them with Udayan Plus. A yield of 25 tonnes per hectare is expected, with an estimated market value of about Tk 4.5 crore.

Udayan Plus, Udayan, Roma, Bahubali and other local varieties are grown in different parts of the district. Tomato cultivation has increased in almost every area, including Kalidah, Panchgachhia and Motbi in Sadar upazila; Sadar, Darbarpur, Munshirhat, Amjadhat and Anandapur in Fulgazi upazila; Mangalkandi, Char Darbesh, Char Chandia and Amirabad in Sonagazi upazila; Pathannagar and Radhanagar in Chhagalnaiya upazila; and Purba Chandrapur and Rajapur in Daganbhuiyan upazila.

The agriculture department says tomato growers are being given various advice with good yields in mind. In particular, local farmers' use of organic fertiliser is improving soil fertility and ensuring toxin-free vegetables. A bumper tomato crop is expected this rabi season if the weather stays favourable.

Abul Khayer Mintu of Dhalia village in Darbarpur union, Fulgazi upazila, said he grew Udayan Plus tomatoes on 12 decimals of land this year on the advice of the upazila agriculture office. He used mulching paper and vermicompost. Having spent Tk 40,000, he hopes to earn about Tk 1.5 lakh. He faced natural problems early after sowing but still expects a bumper crop this year.

Md Jamir, a farmer from Mathiara in Panchgachhia union, Sadar upazila, said he made a profit from tomatoes last year and has grown them on 30 decimals this year. If the crop escapes bad weather, a bumper yield is likely.

Nurul Afchhar of Munshirhat union in Fulgazi upazila has grown the Bahubali variety alongside other rabi crops. Good demand and prices encouraged him to grow tomatoes on 30 decimals this year, with low labour and costs. He will profit if the yield is good.

Mozammel Haque, Abdus Sattar Sumon and Rafiqul Islam of Jagatpur village in Purba Chandrapur union, Daganbhuiyan upazila, have grown Udayan Plus, Unnayan, Bahubali and Bijli-11 varieties. They said spending Tk 35,000-40,000 per bigha produces 35,000-40,000 kg of tomatoes.

Sub-assistant agriculture officer Abdullah Al-Maruf said: "Growing improved tomato varieties using mulching and organic fertiliser will bring even more profit."

Sub-assistant agriculture officer Monoj Kanti Debnath said: "Tomatoes are more profitable than other crops, and prices stay good all year, so farmers are more interested in them. Fulgazi's soil and environment are also suitable for tomatoes. If every family grew tomatoes in pots or sacks, it could easily meet its own needs. Variety is very important in tomato farming."

Fulgazi upazila agriculture officer Khorshed Alam said: "We have been giving farmers all the advice they need, including on choosing improved varieties and controlling diseases and pests. This year the tomato target for Fulgazi upazila was 20 hectares, but tomatoes have been planted on 22 hectares, exceeding the target."

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