Rafiq Sheikh is a farmer from Nayansukh in Barat, Rajbari Sadar upazila. This year he grew hybrid tomatoes on 5 bighas, and with good yields and prices he is hoping for a profit. Like him, many tomato growers, including Anwar Sheikh, Sultana Begum, Samchhul Sardar and Sattar Molla, expect to profit. They are currently selling at Tk 20-27 a kg and will gain if prices hold to the end.

The growers say costs have risen because of the high prices of leased land, fertiliser, seed and pesticide. They say they have received no government help or significant advice from sub-assistant agriculture officers, so they have farmed on their own.

Tomatoes are grown mostly on the chars and low-lying land along Rajbari's rivers, above all in Goalanda upazila. Favourable weather and the growers' hard work have produced a bumper hybrid tomato crop this year, and they are happy with the good prices. Even those who planted early are getting good prices. Through middlemen, the tomatoes are supplied to Rajbari, Dhaka and other parts of the country.

Farmers said growing a bigha costs about Tk 25,000-30,000, including irrigation, land preparation, pesticide, seed, planting and labour. On leased land, the cost more than doubles. With a good crop, a farmer gets 150 to 200 maunds of tomatoes per bigha. Tomatoes are currently selling at Tk 25-27 a kg on the wholesale market.

About 700 hectares have been planted with tomatoes in Rajbari this year, slightly more than last year, most of it in Rajbari Sadar and Goalanda. Grower Rafiq Sheikh said: "This year I grew tomatoes on 5 bighas and am selling some. I am selling at Tk 25 a kg wholesale now. If the market stays like this I will profit; if prices fall I will lose."

He said: "Fertiliser, seed and all other farm inputs are very expensive. Last year I lost a lot of money on 5 bighas. If the government cut the prices of fertiliser, seed and fuel oil, we would benefit. I sell these tomatoes in Rajbari, Pangsha, Faridpur and Mirpur in Dhaka. This time it cost about Tk 70,000 per bigha. Given the yield, I will get Tk 1 lakh to 2 lakh."

Grower Anwar Sheikh said: "By Allah's grace the yield is good this time, and prices are going well. Farming on leased land doubles the cost. With a good crop, one bigha gives about 150 to 200 maunds of tomatoes. We have become agriculture officers ourselves now; we understand better than them which pesticide or fertiliser is needed when."

Samchhul Sardar said: "As I have no land of my own, I leased land to grow tomatoes. With the extra Tk 40,000 on top of the farming costs, it cost Tk 60,000-70,000 in all. Both the yield and the market are better than last year. If it stays like this to the end, I will make a profit."

Abul Kalam Azad, deputy director of the Rajbari district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said: "As a single vegetable, tomatoes are grown most widely in Rajbari. Good weather has brought a good yield. Farmers always complain. It is not possible to visit one farmer all the time. We visit once or twice, give advice and leave a phone number, and they take advice by phone when needed."

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