Farmers in Sharsha, Jashore have had remarkable success growing lettuce. This foreign leaf crop has been grown this year in several areas of the upazila's Sadar and Ulashi unions.

Sharsha upazila agricultural extension officer Tarun Kumar Bala said: "Moving away from conventional, unprofitable crops, Sharsha's farmers are becoming interested in growing safe, high-value new foreign crop varieties."

In the farmland of the Jadunathpur (Harikhali) block in the upazila's Panburi village, Chinese lettuce is being grown on 20 decimals of land alongside various seasonal vegetables.

Describing lettuce cultivation, Lipi Khatun said: "The land has to be prepared well for lettuce. Lettuce can be grown in two ways: by sowing seed directly, or by sowing in a seedbed. Seedlings of the right age (one month) are transplanted into the main field, keeping 12 inches between rows and 8 inches between plants."

Imdadul Haque of Dakshin Burujbagan village in Sharsha Sadar union said: "The lettuce grown here is the Green Rapid variety. The upazila agriculture office is giving all kinds of advice and help for growing this foreign leaf. The seed is available at Siddique Bazar in Dhaka and has to be bought at a high price. It becomes fit to eat within one to one and a half months of planting."

Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Mrs Sultana Parvin said: "Although lettuce is grown all year round in cold countries, in our country seed can be sown in phases only in the Rabi season, from October to January. Cultivation has begun in Sharsha. If a local market can be built through publicity, farmers will benefit greatly."

Lettuce grower Rokunuzzaman said: "Ordinary people locally know little about how it is used, so sales are somewhat low. But it sells by the piece at Jatrabari, Shyambazar and Karwan Bazar in Dhaka, at Tk 10-50 a piece. It does not cost much to grow; wages, ploughing, fertiliser, pesticide and other costs stay within reach. As it is suitable to grow all twelve months, lettuce cultivation has increased here alongside vegetables."

Upazila agriculture officer Dipak Kumar Saha said: "Under the Sustainable Agricultural Extension Project in the Jashore region, lettuce has been grown on 132 decimals of land in the upazila as a demonstration of safe, high-value vegetable production. The agriculture office has given all kinds of help for lettuce cultivation. Beyond this, if anyone wants advice or support, we are keen to give it."

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