Samespur in Burichang, Cumilla, is known to vegetable growers across the country. The village has a tradition and reputation for seedling production going back half a century. At the foot of the Mainamati hills it produces seedlings of many kinds of vegetables. Sales usually begin in the Bengali month of Shraban, but because of recent floods and bad weather, production and sales started late this year. Growers are busy making up for flood losses, and sales are now in full swing.

In Samespur, small seedling growers were seen preparing land, watering seedlings and lifting plants for sale, while wholesalers waited on the field ridges to collect fresh seedlings. The work goes on from dawn to dusk, with two to four farmers working in each plot.

Farmers say floods and heavy rain set seedling production back by at least three months this year, causing them financial losses. Though late, they are working round the clock to recover.

The Cumilla Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) says about 700 farmers are producing and selling seedlings on about 20 hectares in Samespur and elsewhere in the district, creating work for more than 5,000 people. For more than four decades, farmers in Samespur, Dakla Para, Kalakachua, Kabila and Nimsar in Burichang upazila have kept producing seedlings.

Seedlings are also now produced and sold in Chauddagram, Chandina, Barura, Debidwar and other upazilas. Seedling sales of about Tk 22 crore are expected this year. Because Cumilla's seedlings are of good quality and give high yields, demand is at a peak nationwide. They are sold in Chattogram, Noakhali, Feni, Chandpur, Brahmanbaria, Sylhet, Habiganj, Narayanganj and other districts. Green chilli, cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, brinjal, bottle gourd and sweet pumpkin seedlings are in highest demand.

Samespur seedling grower Anwar Hossain told Jagonews24: "Sales of tomato, green chilli, cauliflower, cabbage and tal begun brinjal seedlings have already begun. Wholesalers take them from the field ridges before we can take them to market. The flood caused us heavy losses this year and we could not plant seedlings on time. Seeing the interest of so many farmers wanting seedlings, we have started producing and selling again, late as it is, to recover. I hope we can make up at least some of the loss."

Abdul Mannan, who came from Laksam upazila to buy seedlings, told Jagonews24: "The vegetable seedlings here are of good varieties and give good yields. That is why I came so far. I am a successful grower and take seedlings from here every time. I hope to do well again."

Tamiz Uddin, a farmer from Siddhirganj in Narayanganj, told Jagonews24 that he has been taking seedlings from here for about 20 years, and always buys from Samespur because of the quality seedlings and the good yields they deliver as promised.

Jahangir Alam, owner of Sathi-Bithi Nursery in Samespur, told Jagonews24: "We have produced and sold seedlings since our forefathers' time. My father, Yusuf Ali, was the first to plant seedlings in this village after the British era, and he then encouraged others in the area. Now the whole area is engaged in this business."

He said: "I have been producing seedlings for 40 years. Samespur has a tradition and reputation as a village of good seedlings. Most farmers in the country trust our seedlings for their quality and assured yields. At least Tk 7–10 crore worth of seedlings are sold from this village every year."

Ayub Mahmud, deputy director of the DAE in Cumilla, told Jagonews24: "About 700 farmers are producing seedlings on about 20 hectares in Samespur and elsewhere in the district. Sales of about Tk 22 crore are expected this time. The agriculture department always gives them the advice they need on seedling production. Incentives have also been given to small farmers hit by this year's flood."

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