With winter on the way, farmers and hobby growers in Joypurhat are planting winter vegetables in their yards and on fallow land. Putting unused ground around their homes to work, they are meeting their families' daily need for vegetables, and many are earning extra money by selling the surplus at market.
In Jamalpur, Baniyapara, Majhipara and Puranapoil in Sadar upazila, and in the town's Shaplanagar, Bulupara and Biswaspara neighbourhoods, yards, front plots and fallow land are now widely planted. The gardens hold cabbage, cauliflower, turmeric, aubergine, beetroot, red amaranth, spinach, tomato, carrot, coriander, stem amaranth, onion, water spinach, nafa shak, garlic, radish, squash, beans, peas and bottle gourd.
The growers say they use no harmful pesticides and grow the crops by natural, safe methods, so their families get fresh, safe vegetables.
Mostakim Hossain of Sabuj Nagar in the town said the plot in front of his house used to lie empty; now its vegetables meet his family's needs, and growing them himself is a pleasure. Nayan Hossain, a farmer in Baniyapara, said a yard that had long lain fallow has given a good harvest since he started, and selling the extra brings in money. Naim Hasan of Majhipara said the same: the winter vegetables from his yard feed the family and earn a profit at market.
Manju Alam Sarkar, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Joypurhat, said homestead vegetable growing is mostly a hobby but has real economic and nutritional value. Planned use of fallow and idle land around homes can meet a family's nutrition needs and add income, and such efforts can also help the rural economy, he said.
This report is based on a story by Jony Sarkar, Daily Bangladesh's correspondent in Joypurhat.
Source: Daily Bangladesh
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