Farmers in Sherpur's char areas are becoming keen on growing peas, thanks to fair prices and the benefit to soil fertility. With the hybrid Debgiri variety suffering few diseases and the weather favourable this year, Sherpur has had a bumper yield, to the delight of char farmers. The agriculture department says cultivation of this pulse crop will grow further next season because of the good yields and profits.

According to the agriculture department, the soil of Sherpur's chars is well suited to peas. The hybrid Debgiri variety has relatively few diseases, so pesticides are not needed. The crop can be harvested within 60 to 70 days of sowing. The land is ploughed and the seed sown in October, with 12 kg of seed needed per bigha.

Only TSP and potash fertiliser are needed. In some cases pesticides against foot rot and insects have to be used. Irrigation is hardly needed. The peas are picked in three rounds. The average yield of Debgiri peas is 40–50 maunds a bigha, and peas are selling at Tk 2,500 to Tk 3,000 a maund in the market.

Harej Mia, a farmer of Charkharchar village in Sadar upazila, grew peas on one bigha with the agriculture department's help and has already harvested them. He said he spent Tk 4,000–5,000 and sold the crop for Tk 25,000. With favourable weather this season, Sherpur Sadar has had a bumper pea yield.

Julhas Uddin, a farmer of Kamarer Char, grew peas on 20 decimals. "After picking the peas I will grow jute on that land. The branches and roots of pea plants increase soil fertility, so the next crop will need less fertiliser. Next season I will grow peas on more land," he said.

Farmer Ashraful Islam said: "Peas can be grown both with and without ploughing. Because the crop comes early, we get the chance to grow maize on the same land. That's why pea cultivation is rising day by day in the chars."

Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Sherpur, told Jago News: "Growing peas costs relatively little and the profit is higher, so farmers are becoming more interested day by day. The district has had a bumper pea yield this season. We are giving farmers the support they need through our regular projects."

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