Minjar Hossain of Siddhirganj is meeting his family's nutritional needs by growing bottle gourd and making money by selling the surplus. He is delighted with this year's good yield. Although homes and businesses have sprung up around him, he has kept the land for farming. The profit may be small, but he is content growing bottle gourd.

A visit to Jalkuri Uttarpara in Siddhirganj found that Minjar has created a large bottle gourd field on 8 decimals of land, with gourds hanging in clusters from the trellis. Ignoring the sun, Minjar was busy tending the field with his son, a university student.

Minjar Hossain said: "I have been growing bottle gourd since 2019. Building this field with the trellis cost Tk 10-15 thousand. This year the yield is several times higher, so I am making the most profit in the last 5-6 years. As I have no other work, I do the field work myself, and my son helps me in his spare time. When there is a lot of work I have to hire extra people. My family has supported me well from the start."

He said: "Even after meeting the family's needs and giving to relatives, lots of gourds are left over. I don't need to go to market to sell them; buyers come and pick the gourds they like. This year the field produced 700-800 gourds. Each sells for Tk 50-200 depending on size. I also earn well from selling gourd leaves."

Minjar said: "The land belongs to my father. If I built a shop on it, I might earn more. But farming is different. What I earn from selling gourds and leaves is enough to get by without much trouble. It is hard to get soil for farming these days. I had already collected soil; I only mixed in cow dung to make it suitable for farming."

He added: "My next generation may build houses here. But as long as I live, I will keep farming here. When I get a harvest after a lot of hard work, I feel great joy. I would never get that from any other work."

His son Samiul Alam said: "I love working with my father. When the yield is good, he is very happy, and seeing his happiness multiplies mine. I have had a strong interest in farming since childhood. My grandfather farmed here. I give my father time between my studies. I am proud to work with him."

Mahmuda Hasnat, Narayanganj Sadar upazila agriculture officer, said: "Farmland in Siddhirganj is shrinking day by day. But many people are still involved in farming as a hobby. Vegetables are rich in vitamins. We advise on how to grow disease-free vegetables and get higher yields. When the government gives any incentive for farmers, we distribute it fairly among them."

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