Experienced farmer Md Shahjahan, 62, has been farming leased land in various parts of Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, for 40 years. This time he has grown red amaranth, bottle gourd leaves and several other greens on four fields totalling 190 decimals in Mizmizi beel, in Ward 1 of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC), at the Das Pipe section of the Mizmizi-Jalkuri-Chashara road. He hopes to make more profit than in previous years.

Md Shahjahan is not just a seasonal farmer; he farms all year round. He has the most success, and the most profit, from vegetables in any season. As every year, he has sown seed of bottle gourd leaves, red amaranth, Malabar spinach (pui), radish greens and napa greens for a bigger profit. He employs eight workers on yearly contracts to look after them, paying each Tk 18,000-20,000.

Shahjahan is the son of the late Ali Ahmed of Barishal. Not attentive to his studies, he could not finish school; after studying up to class eight he turned to farming. In 1981 he left his village and began living in Siddhirganj, taking up farming there as a young man. He has become self-reliant through this work. Although he started out as a tenant, through hard work he bought 5 kathas of land next to the open market at Jalkuri Uttarpara in Ward 9, built a house and lives there with his family.

Shahjahan said he came to Dhaka in 1981. Though he failed in his own studies, he has spared no effort to give his children higher education. Of his two children, his elder son is studying engineering, and he has made preparations to send him abroad to study very soon. His younger daughter is studying for an honours degree at a public university. Even in old age he is the family's only earner, and he feels he has come close to realising his dream of educating his children.

The farmer said he is growing vegetables on four plots leased for three years. This season he has sown bottle gourd leaves on 115 decimals, red amaranth on 10 decimals, radish greens on 10 decimals, Malabar spinach on 40 decimals and napa greens on 15 decimals. He has spent Tk 1 lakh so far, from sowing to now, and may spend another Tk 10,000. Besides these four, he has several fields elsewhere.

Asked about the profit, Shahjahan said: "TSP, urea (white), gap and potash (red) fertilisers are applied to these greens, and they are watered once a week. The profit will be higher than in other years. I think it will be possible to sell all the greens and vegetables in the field for Tk 2 lakh. With a good yield, few greens have been spoilt this time, so I have higher hopes of profit."

Abul Hossain, who looks after the crops, said: "Of these greens, red amaranth grows fastest, reaching full size in just 20-22 days. The other greens sown can be harvested in one to one and a half months."

Narayanganj Sadar upazila agriculture officer Mahmuda Hasnat said: "Farmers currently cultivate a total of 544 hectares in Siddhirganj. Subject to the spread of new farm technology, revenue and project-based allocations and government allocations, we distribute inputs and give farmers all kinds of advice. We try to keep in regular contact with them."

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