Joypurhat is known across the country for its vegetables, and among the new crops being grown there, capsicum is also gaining recognition. Where paddy, wheat and potato brought losses, one farmer has succeeded with capsicum. Abdur Rashid, once a footpath seller of green coconuts, is now a successful agricultural entrepreneur whose commercial capsicum farm has caught everyone's attention. The local agriculture department believes his individual initiative will inspire farmers in the north.

Abdur Rashid, of Dhantola village in Khetlal upazila, told Jago News that he sold green coconuts on a Dhaka footpath with his father for about 20 years. Two and a half years ago, after watching YouTube, he came home and started an orange orchard and various other crops. He is now growing capsicum on 1 acre using the mulching method.

"To control pests I used yellow traps and pheromone traps. I applied cow dung and a small amount of fertiliser to the land. Because of these, the capsicum has yielded heavily. As no chemicals were used, the capsicum I am producing is free of poison," Abdur Rashid said.

"On 1 bigha of land the total cost was Tk 1 lakh. So far I have sold more than Tk 3 lakh worth. I hope to sell about Tk 5 lakh more in the remaining time," he said.

Farmer Kalam told Jago News: "Abdur Rashid has made a big profit from growing capsicum for the first time. He would have profited even more if he had been able to market it during Ramadan. Next year many farmers besides Abdur Rashid have decided to grow capsicum."

Azizul Islam, a farmer from Dhantola village, told Jago News: "Rashid bhai's capsicum has done much better than other crops. I was thinking of planting bitter gourd this year, but now I have changed my mind. I too will plant capsicum on 1 bigha this time."

Agriculturist Mojibur Rahman, additional deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), told Jago News: "The agriculture department encourages farmers to grow high-value crops. Commercial capsicum farming has started in Joypurhat. However, attacks by fungus, thrips and mites are high. With proper care in these cases, the hoped-for yield can be achieved."

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