Farmers in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali have had good yields from early hyacinth beans of the BARI-4 variety grown on raised beds. The weather has been kind, and as an early vegetable the beans are selling at Tk 120 to 150 a kilogram in local markets.
Abdus Salam of Pakhimara village built 33 beds on 120 decimals of land without any government grant. He said the variety starts bearing within 50 days of planting and keeps cropping through the year. He now picks 50 to 60 kilograms a day, which wholesalers buy at Tk 100 to 120 a kilogram, and he hopes to earn Tk 3 to 4 lakh from the crop.
Despite the yields, farmers complain that a syndicate created an artificial shortage and sold fertiliser and pesticide at high prices, and that they are still paying those prices. With costs up, they say, the profit is hard to see.
Local vegetable grower Abdul Kader Sikder said he took up vegetables after seeing Chalam Sikder's pesticide-free beans, grown for 20 to 25 years. But with fertiliser so dear he cannot apply it on time and is struggling to cover his costs.
Kalapara upazila agriculture officer Arafat Hossain said farmers are being encouraged to grow vegetables and advised on disease control and the right use of fertiliser. Early beans on raised beds, he said, give farmers both yield and profit.
Reported by Krishi Shomoy's Patuakhali correspondent.
Photo: Hyacinth bean flowers and pods (Lablab purpureus), Fanghong / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Krishi Shomoy
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