Farmers in Gabkhan village of Jhalakathi Sadar upazila have become self-reliant by growing vegetables, and various varieties have yielded bumper crops this season. Abdul Haque Talukder of Gabkhan village in Dhansiri union described how vegetable farming made him self-reliant.

Abdul Haque Talukder said: "I could not study because I had to help carry the burden of my poor father's household, so I turned to growing vegetables. At first I worked on other people's land. Later I took two bighas and started growing vegetables."

"Because demand for vegetables in the market was good, I first grew cauliflower, cabbage, magic bean, cucumber, papaya, pumpkin, radish, red amaranth, tomato, bottle gourd and other vegetables. I made a profit selling them. Spending Tk 20,000, I sell about a lakh taka of vegetables in one season. Now various vegetables grow on my land all year round. Vegetable farming now supports my family. I have bought land, and now I grow vegetables on my own land."

Abdul Haque Talukder added: "Although I have been growing vegetables for 25 years, the Sadar upazila agriculture office has never once given me free fertiliser or pesticide. I want government grants and all-round support from the Khamarbari."

Local people said Abdul Haque is a model vegetable grower, and many in the area have taken up vegetable farming after seeing him. Wholesale traders buy vegetables from him and sell them in the market. He has sold a lakh taka worth of vegetables this season.

Jhalakathi Sadar upazila agriculture officer Md Rifat Sikder said: "We do not know which grower has succeeded with which crop where. If any grower has a problem with cultivation and lets us know, we take action. The agriculture office does not give out pesticides. But we will look into it and help that grower."

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