A silent revolution in vegetable farming has taken place in the border district of Sherpur. After meeting local demand, a variety of vegetables are being supplied to the capital and across the country. The market value of vegetables grown in the district this Kharif-2 season is about Tk 250 crore. Farmers say yields have been good thanks to favourable weather.

Hashem Ali, of Kusumhati in Lachmanpur union of Sherpur Sadar, returned from Singapore and took up farming after his years abroad. Having profited from papaya on 25 decimals of land, he now grows aubergine, tomato, yardlong beans, chilli and other vegetables.

"I grew Yellow Lady papaya on 25 decimals. With good prices and yields I made a profit, so I also grew bitter gourd, ridge gourd and bottle gourd. I sold bitter gourd wholesale at Tk 70 a kg. Now I have planted DG 1717 chilli on a bigha using mulching, and with favourable weather the yield is very good," he said.

Abdus Sattar Mia of the same village grows bitter gourd, bottle gourd, pumpkin, aubergine and other vegetables. "I am selling bitter gourd at Tk 70–80 a kg. Local bottle gourds sell for Tk 60–80 depending on size, and aubergine at Tk 50 a kg. This time we are seeing profits after losses in other years," he said.

Chhamidul Haque, a farmer from Satpakia village in Charpakshimari union, said he grew okra on one bigha, and both price and yield were good.

Shafiqul Islam of Kakilakura village in Sreebardi upazila said he grew bitter gourd along with yardlong beans this time and sold bitter gourd at up to Tk 80 a kg.

Salam Mia of Borodubi village in Kalaspar union, Nalitabari upazila, said he grew taro on low land. He sold taro stolons and taro from one and a half bighas at quite high prices, with none selling below Tk 50.

Abdul Kadir Mia of Gomra village in Jhenaigati upazila, known as a vegetable village, said about a hundred farmers there grow vegetables. Despite some damage from hill-water floods, there has been a bumper harvest, and farmers have profited from good market prices.

Marginal farmers say that if traders from wholesale markets in the capital and elsewhere bought vegetables directly from them, middlemen (foria) could not take a cut. They are asking the local agriculture department and administration to arrange for wholesale traders to buy directly from farmers' fields.

Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Muslima Khanam Nilu said vegetables grown there go to the capital and other parts of the country and are in great demand, and the agriculture department gives farmers regular advisory services.

Jhenaigati Upazila Agriculture Officer Farhad Hossain said Jhenaigati's soil is very suitable for farming, which is why there is a village there called the vegetable village that produces a great deal. Vegetables worth at least Tk 25–30 crore are grown in the upazila each season.

Sakhawat Hossain, deputy director of the district agriculture department, told Jago News that this Kharif-2 season vegetables were grown on 3,694 hectares in the district's five upazilas, producing about 62,798 tonnes worth about Tk 251 crore. More than a lakh families are involved.

He said that in response to local farmers' demand, the department will set up direct links between farmers and the owners of the country's big wholesale markets, and will arrange this quickly in consultation with the deputy commissioner.

Alhaj Arif Hasan, president of the Sherpur Chamber of Commerce, said Sherpur is self-reliant in agriculture. Farmers would benefit more if proper marketing were ensured rather than middlemen. About 62,798 tonnes of vegetables worth about Tk 251 crore have been produced this season, and everyone must work sincerely in this sector.

Deputy Commissioner Farida Yasmin told Jago News that the administration will contact the country's big vegetable wholesalers to ensure proper marketing so they can buy directly from farmers' fields. Selling Tk 250 crore worth in a single season is remarkable and will have a good impact on the local and national economy. Marginal farmers will receive all-round support through the district agriculture department.

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