Jaldhaka Upazila of Nilphamari was once a backward region where cows and goats roamed the miles of uncultivated wasteland. After growing tobacco, the farmers did not even think about other crops. However, in recent time, farmers in the area are gaining interest in seasonal vegetable cultivation.
A farmer named Zahid Hossain has developed an ideal vegetable village in Mirganj Union of Jaldhaka Upazila of Nilphamari and Hatibandha of Upazila Lalmonirhat. Zahid's success impressed everyone. Now they are cultivating Patal with the help of Zahid. The village is like a vegetable village.Zahid himself became successful, spreading his dream to others. He changed a small part of the country with his efforts.
After returning home from abroad, Zahid did not return. Thinking of doing something in the country, he started egg business. Later, he started business with a grocery agency. He also does poultry farming.
But finding no success in either, he decided to take up agricultural work when he was depressed. Three years ago, he was involved in agricultural work. Became interested in vegetable cultivation. Starting in January 2020. He has impressed everyone by cultivating pointed gourd in only one and a half bigha land. Later, he expanded vegetable cultivation by leasing land from others.
Zahid Hossain said that he got success by cultivating pointed gourd. The wealth of the family is also increasing. They have fenced net and wire on all sides of the land. Expected success has also been achieved in the leased lands.
After planting the pointed gourd vines, bamboo lofts were made and the trees were placed on high lofts. 90 thousand per bigha has been spent.
He started collecting pods two months after planting the vines. So far, he has sold about 400,000 tk worth of pointed gourd. He uses organic fertilizers as well as small amounts of pesticides.
He is extracting about 1 mound of pointed gourd daily from these lands. At present, he is selling wholesale at Tk 30 to Tk 45 per kg. Besides pointed gourd, he is cultivating various vegetables including brinjal, pepper, cauliflower, cabbage.
He expressed hope that this year he will give 30,000 pens to Patal vines. Already received an order for 10,000 pen fodder. He has cultivated cauliflower, cabbage, and cabbage on two bigha of land along with one bigha of brinjal, 1 bigha of bananas on lease of more land.
When Jaldhaka Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Sumon Ahmed was contacted, he said, "We are encouraging farmers to increase vegetable cultivation in this upazila and inform them about the potential of profit from companion crops and vegetable cultivation.
