Farmers are cultivating gourd on vast tract of land using mulching and modern technology this year in four upazilas of Chuadanga district as they have been making profit to sell gourds.
It may be mentioned here, now farmers are getting success by cultivating gourd easily in fallow and other cultivable land. They do not have to spend anything other than buying seeds to grow gourd. Cultivation of gourd reduces weeds in the land following mulching system.
According to Chuadanga District Agriculture Extension Department, a total of 90 hectares of land have been taken under gourd cultivation in 4 upazilas of Chuadanga district. The upazila wise breaks up are-29 hectares of land in sadar upazila, 21 hectares of land in Alamdanga upazila, 27 hectares of land in Damurhuda upazila and 13 hectares of land in Jibannagar upazila.
The also added, about 2,000 metric tons of gourd are expected to produce in the district. So 580 metric tons are expected to be produced gourd in sadar upazila, 420 metric tons in Alamdanga upazila, 540 metric tons in Damurhuda upazila and 460 metric tons in Jibannagar upazila.
The gourd growers use mulching paper and modern technology in gourd cultivation. Farmers planted gourd seeds on that land in the month of June to July. Flowers begin to appear in October and harvest starts from November up to March. Besides farmers are producing gourd whole year now, Lutfar Rahman of village Garabaria in sadar upazila of the district says.
It is learnt from Agriculture Extension Department, planting and harvesting of gourd go on throughout the year at present.
Farmers say that gourd cultivation is very profitable in the way of mulching. No use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in the cultivation, learnt from farmers.
Gourds can be sold in the market within a few days of being harvested from the tree. To grow gourd in one bigha land, it costs Tk.10 thousand first. At present, farmers are selling a gourd at the rate of Tk 25-30 in markets in accordance of size of gourds.
There are no harmful effects as there is no use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. By cultivating gourds with mulching paper and modern technology, farmers are selling gourds for about Tk. one lakh from one bigha of land. This gourd is tasty and in high demand in the market, said Bazlur Rahman of village Zalshuka in Sadar upazila of the district.