The farmers in Nabinagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district are making a profit by cultivating hybrid variety of bottle gourd.
This year, hybrid variety of bottle gourd, including Diana, Moyna and Badshah variety, were cultivated in 120 hectares of land in Nabinagar upazila. These hybrid varieties of bottle gourd yield 40 to 50 tonnes of crop per hectare. Each piece of bottle is being sold at Tk 80 to Tk 90 in the market currently. According to that calculation, a farmer can earn more that Tk one lakh from each bigha of land.
It was learnt that these hybrid variety of bottle gourds are resistant to high temperature, humidity and salinity. As a result, they can be cultivated before the winter. They grow fast and yield 40 to 50 tonnes of crop per hectare of land.
Kuddus Mia, a farmer from Sitarampur village under Krishnanagar union of the upazila, have become self-sufficient by farming bottle gourd in 12 decimal (shatak) of land. The middle of August is the most suitable month for farming early variety of bottle gourd. During the other seasons, he cultivates other crops on his land. As there is a huge demand for bottle gourd plant leaves, many have become interested to cultivate this vegetable.
Kuddus Mia said he is cultivating the profitable bottle gourd in 12 decimal of land. He had to invest Tk 5,500 for that. Each piece of bottle gourd is selling at Tk 80 to Tk 90. He expressed his hope that this year, he will be able to earn Tk 50,000 to Tk 60,000 from selling this vegetable. He also sells the leaves of bottle gourd plant leaves at a good price.
He sold bottle gourd and bottle gourd plant leaves of his farm several times till now. He himself sells bottle gourd in various farms and markets. He also said that growing bottle gourd does not require much effort and the bottle gourd plants do not get infested with pests or suffer from diseases that much. Moreover, he does not need to work much after the plants grow up. He just need to take care of them regularly. Apart from that, the Department of Agricultural Extension helps him with technology to prevent pest infestation and diseases regularly.
Farmer Md Rashid said he followed another farmer Nahid and started growing bottle gourds. He cultivated bottle gourd in four decimal of land. Following the instruction of the agricultural officers, he properly applied fertilizers and pesticides in the plants. He got a good yield. He sells 70 to 90 pieces of bottle gourd every morning and making a good profit from it.
Regarding the matter, Upazila Agriculture Officer Jahangir Alam Liton said a farmer can earn more than Tk one lakh from per bigha of land. We try to provide our utmost assistance if a farmer comes to ask for help from us. We are trying to move the farmers of Nabinagar upazila forward. Bottle gourd was cultivated in 120 hectares of land in the upazila this year. Each hectare of land yielded 40 to 50 tonnes of bottle gourd and it is increasing day by day. This is a matter of hope for our agriculture sector.
