The area under khira cucumber in Mirsarai, Chattogram, keeps growing. Because early planting pays, interest among farmers is rising, and those whose crops come in ahead of the season are making good profits.

According to the upazila agriculture office, the target this year is 220 acres of khira, of which 80 acres have been sown with early varieties. Most khira is grown in the Karerhat, Hinguli, Ichhakhali, Durgapur, Khaiyachhara, Wahedpur and Saherkhali unions, with farmers in Hinguli and Khaiyachhara leading on early planting.

In the Charsharat area of Ichhakhali union, several growers have planted khira alongside other winter vegetables, and villagers were seen tending their fields. Local farmer Mohammad Nizam Uddin has grown khira on one acre and tomatoes on another acre.

His son Abu Noman said: "This time we grew khira on about one acre and spent about Tk 5 lakh. We have already started selling and have sold about Tk 3 lakh worth. If the weather stays favourable, I hope to sell another Tk 4–5 lakh. Tomato sales will start at the beginning of December."

Mosharaf Hossain, a farmer in Khaiyachhara, said: "This year I grew khira on 25 decimals. Many people have been growing khira for the last seven or eight years. I have spent about Tk 30,000 and sold Tk 18,000 so far. I can keep selling for about another month and a half. Altogether I will be able to sell Tk 1 lakh 20 thousand."

Another grower, Nurul Huda, said: "This time I grew khira on 20 decimals. Because I planted early I got a good price. At first I sold khira at Tk 80–100 a kg. Now I am selling wholesale at Tk 40–45."

Wholesalers take the khira to Feni, Sitakunda, Baraiyarhat, Chhagalnaiya and Chattogram city. Within the upazila it is sold wholesale at the Barodarogarhat, Mithachhara, Baratakia, Mirsarai Sadar, Baraiyarhat and Karerhat markets.

Retailer Touhidul Islam said: "Khira grown in Mirsarai is sweeter than khira from other areas, so demand for it in the market is much higher. Every year I buy khira grown in Hinguli and Khaiyachhara unions and sell it retail."

Md Shahjahan, the sub-assistant agriculture officer in charge of Khaiyachhara union, said: "Farmers in Khaiyachhara union have been growing early khira for the last 10–12 years. Because the early crop is profitable, the area is growing day by day."

Mirsarai upazila agriculture officer Pratap Chandra Roy said: "The soil of Mirsarai upazila is suitable for khira. Farmers' interest is growing because early khira fetches a good price. We give farmers every kind of support. After meeting local demand, khira from here goes to different parts of the country."

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