Farmers in Sunamganj have transformed winter tomato growing, harvesting 25-30 tonnes a hectare. Tomatoes grown in the district now meet local demand and are also sent to other regions. Growers are pleased with the prices and say they have made a profit of Tk 5-6 lakh a hectare after production costs, so more land is going under tomatoes. The district is seen as highly promising for this high-yielding crop.

In the fields, tomatoes peep out from among green leaves and heaps of picked fruit lie at the edge of the plots. Farmer Shah Alam has grown tomatoes on 10 acres of his own land. He told Jagonews: "About 40 per cent of the tomatoes have already been sold, for more than Tk 50 lakh. I hope to sell another Tk 20-30 lakh worth."

Tomato farming is changing the fortunes of Sunamganj's growers, with yields now reaching 30-35 tonnes a hectare. The crop does not have to be taken to markets: wholesalers from various districts buy it directly from the fields. That low-cost route to sale has made tomato growing popular with farmers in the district.

According to the district office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), tomatoes were grown on 2,500 hectares across the district's 12 upazilas this year, a crop with a market value of Tk 150 crore.

Farmer Hossain Mia told Jagonews: "I grew tomatoes with a loan and I have succeeded. I have made a good profit from tomatoes this year."

Farmer Hamid Mia said: "I lost a great deal in the flood. To make up for it, I borrowed money at high interest this year to grow tomatoes. I have made a good profit and will grow more tomatoes in future."

Bimal Chandra Som, deputy director of the DAE in Sunamganj, told Jagonews: "Farmers are making a profit from tomatoes this year. We will encourage them so that even more tomatoes are grown next year."

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