The farmers in Jhenaidah became worried when they were advised to grow the oil seeds soybean on their lands as demonstration. But no market was developed and mills set up to process the same so far. As the farmers had a bitter experience in palm seeds farming about 20 years back, they are feeling insecure about the new oil seeds. The department of agriculture extension (DAE) had set 40 demonstration plots in six upazilas of the district in the current season.
Some farmers at Kamarkhali village under Harinakundu upazila when contacted said they were provided demonstration plot of 33 decimals (one bigha) this season for soybean farming. The DAE had supplied seeds and fertilizer for the demonstration plot. One farmers said that he was informed that he might harvest eight to nine maunds of soybean seeds for an amount of Taka during the 90 days crop. But he was worried when he could not see any selling centre and seed processing mills in surrounding 50 kilometres.
Some farmers at Khulumbaria and Jalsuka said they cultivated palm oil plants as advised by the DAE officials about 20 years back. But they could not sell the seeds. Further, they were not informed how and where the seeds could be processed for making edible oils. As a result, the seeds grown on the plants either had rotten up, or collected by the children for playing with the colourful fruits. The bitter experiences still hunt them, they added with agitation.
According to DAE Jhenaidah Khamarbari sources, the government had sanctioned 40 demonstration plots in the district. 10 plots were sanctioned for Jhenaidah Sadar and Kaliganj each upazila, while five plots for Kotchandpur, Moheshpur, Shailkupa and Harinakundu each.
DAE deputy director at Jhenaidah Khamarbari Asgar Ali when contacted said before releasing any variety in the fields, the possibility of the crop is trialed by the research organizations for time and again. They were informed that the buyers will collect the soybean seeds from the demonstration farmers from the field at suitable rice directly. The farmers will receive cash at fields.
DAE deputy director said soybean seeds will help fulfill the demands of the national edible oil demand partially and save national economy from the foreign exports directly. The photo insensitive for 90 days duration crop will be cultivated in the country round the year in environment-friendly atmosphere. It will ensure pure edible oil and strengthen the socio-economic state of the rural farmers in near future when the farmers will receive about two tones of the seeds from each hectare of land.
Abide consuming the soybean oil as edible ones, the oilcakes will be used as feeds for chicken, fish, cattle heads and other sectors when the government has been importing the same from abroad. Further, huge youths including women will be provided with jobs in soybean mills and factories within a few years, Asgar Ali said.