Farmers in Ullapara, Sirajganj, have begun picking early cucumbers (khira) and selling them at wholesale markets, pleased with good yields and high prices. The upazila’s target this season is 360 hectares, of which 225 hectares have been sown; sowing is still going on in many fields.
In the fields of Koyra, Ratandia, Chaksha, Harishpur and Charpara, farmers are busy weeding and applying fertiliser and pesticide. Many plots are covered in vines bearing flowers and fruit; others have just started flowering and will be ready to pick within a week.
Two large wholesale markets, at Charbaddhangachha and Chaksha, have grown up around the upazila’s cucumber trade, drawing traders from across the country through the season. At Baddhangachha, early cucumbers are selling at Tk 1,200-1,250 a maund, with supply still thin this early.
Kawsar Ahmed of Charpara village grew cucumbers on about two and a half bighas, one and a half of local varieties and one of hybrid. His yield has been good and he has started selling at Tk 1,200 a maund.
Traders Alif Hossain and Alek Mia said farmers have been bringing cucumbers to the market for the past five days, and they are buying them and sending them to different parts of the country.
Upazila agriculture officer Subarna Yasmin Sumi said hybrid, Aduri, Moynamoti, Sufal and other varieties are grown in the area, and farmers are doing well financially from good prices. The report is by Krishi Shomoy’s Ullapara (Sirajganj) correspondent.
Photo: Stephen Ausmus, USDA ARS / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Source: Krishi Shomoy
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