Farmers in Mirsarai, Chattogram, are profiting from early cucumbers (khira) this season. At first they sold at Tk 60–70 a kg wholesale and are happy with the price. The agriculture office says cucumber farming in the upazila is growing day by day.

Growers start sowing at the beginning of the month of Ashwin, and the crop begins to yield 45 days after sowing. Supply at market is low at this time, so prices are high. Because early crops fetch good prices, farmers are turning to cucumbers over other vegetables.

According to the upazila agriculture office, the target for cucumbers in the upazila is 200 acres, of which 63 acres have been sown with early varieties. Cucumbers are grown mostly in Hinguli, Durgapur, Khaiyachhara and Wahedpur unions, with Khaiyachhara and Hinguli leading in early cultivation.

In the area, many farmers have grown cucumbers alongside Aman paddy and other winter vegetables, and they were seen tending their fields. About 40 farmers have grown cucumbers this year, as they do every year.

Farmer Abdul Mannan said: "This year I have grown cucumbers on 30 decimals. Many people have been growing them for the past five or six years. I have spent about Tk 25,000 and so far sold Tk 15,000 worth. I can sell for about another month and a half. In all I will be able to sell Tk 1 lakh worth."

Grower Mohiuddin said: "This time I have grown cucumbers on 15 decimals. Because I sowed earlier than others, I got a good price. At first I sold at Tk 60–70 a kg; now I am selling wholesale at Tk 42–45. About 40 people in our village of Moddhyam Azamnagar have grown cucumbers. Wholesale traders from Feni, Sitakunda, Baraiyarhat and Chhagalnaiya come and take them away."

Abu Toyab, Joynal Abedin, Nizam Uddin and Ala Uddin of Khaiyachhara union said they have been growing early cucumbers for the past six or seven years and profit from the good market price. Their cucumbers are now sold at various markets in the upazila.

Cucumbers are sold wholesale at Baradarogarhat, Mithachhara, Baratakia, Mirsarai Sadar, Baraiyarhat and Karerhat markets. Retailer Aminul Islam said: "Cucumbers from here are a bit sweeter, so demand at market is much higher. I buy from here every year to sell retail. I am selling them at Tk 70 a kg."

Mirsarai upazila agriculture officer Pratap Chandra Roy said: "The soil here suits cucumbers. Because early cucumbers fetch good prices, interest among farmers is rising. We give farmers every kind of help. After meeting local demand, cucumbers from here go to various parts of the country."

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