Eklas Uddin Sabuj, a young farmer of Kishoreganj district, now dreams of becoming a self-reliant person after successful capsicum farming in polynet house.
The farmer, also a graduate of Kabi Nazrul Government College in Dhaka, has recently earned around Tk 2 lakh by cultivating high valuable capsicum in polynet house under ‘Increasing Cropping Intensity in Greater Mymensingh Region Project’.
Sabuj, 38, of Narayan Dahor village under Hossainpur upazila in Kishoreganj, wanted to be a businessman after completing his studies. But he has become a farmer following an agriculture officer’s advice.
While visiting the capsicum field, this correspondent found red- and yellow-coloured capsicums in every plant. Sabuj was also passing a busy time there taking care of the capsicum plants.
Talking to the correspondent, Sabuj said, “The upazila agriculture office gifted me the polynet house after my successful tomato cultivation using mulching paper. Later, I agreed to cultivate the high value crops, not only capsicum, in the polynet house under Increasing Cropping Intensity in Greater Mymensingh Region Project.”
He said, “The shade was prepared in June, 2023 but the contractor could not arrange water supply line and fogger machine immediately. Later, the system started working from December last year. I bought 1,140 capsicum seedlings from Bogura’s Agro One Company in December and planted them on 10 decimals of land inside the shade. Each seedling cost Tk 22.”
“After two months, the capsicum plants started bearing fruits. I also began selling them. However, 40 trees were recently damaged by a nor’wester,” he said.
Sabuj further said he has spent around Tk 70,000 on land preparation, labour, fertilizer and medicine. “But I could not sell capsicum on the local market as people here are not habituated to eating it. There is a high demand for the fruit in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka but I could not send it to the capital due to high transportation cost.”
“I am now selling capsicum per kg Tk 350 in Kishoreganj town. I have already got around Tk 2 lakh by selling the fruit while Tk 2 lakh more can be earned by selling the remaining capsicums,” he said.
Sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension said capsicum, commonly known as sweet pepper, is a global vegetable and it is becoming popular in the country.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension in Kishoreganj Md Abdus Sattar said capsicum is a high valuable crop. The upazila agriculture office is cooperating with Sabuj by giving him necessary advice, he said.
