Squash farming sees success in Jashore 

Squash, a foreign variety of winter vegetable, has become a sensation among farmers in Jashore district, demonstrating high yields and lucrative returns. 

Originating from Panama-Mexico, squash, akin to pumpkin, has swiftly gained popularity for its versatility as a vegetable and salad ingredient, boasting the highest mineral content among vegetables, including essential carbohydrates and proteins.

Manjurul Ahsan, a vegetable grower from Shikarpur village, Laxmanpur union, Sharsha Upazila, has recently achieved success in cultivating squash with the assistance of the Agriculture Department. Managing to grow squash alongside other winter crops on one bigha of land, Ahsan has not only diversified his produce but has also reaped financial rewards.

Hailing from Govt. Bir Shrestha Noor Mohammad Degree College, Ahsan shared his journey, stating that after years of cultivating various fruits and vegetables, he discovered squash through YouTube videos. Acquiring squash seeds from the upazila, he employed the mulching method to grow misty seeds, resembling pumpkins or gourds. Within a month and a half, the squash plants bore fruit, closely resembling sweet pumpkins.

Ahsan expressed, "I have cultivated it in about 33rd place, practicing with the advice of agriculture officials. The initial cultivation incurred slightly higher costs, but with squash fetching 40 to 60 rupees in the market, the profits have been substantial. I plan to expand squash cultivation in the future due to its cost-effectiveness and high returns."

Highlighting the uniqueness of squash cultivation, Ahsan noted that each squash weighs between one and a half to two and a half kg. As word spreads about this novel vegetable, local farmers are showing keen interest, visiting Ahsan's fields to learn about the cultivation methods and techniques.

Palash Kishore Ghosh, the local assistant agricultural officer, commented on the unprecedented success, saying , "This marks the first instance of cultivating squash in the soil of Sharsha, introducing a foreign vegetable to the region. With the market exhibiting a high demand and the cultivation proving cost-effective with significant profits, we anticipate a surge in squash cultivation in the area in the future." The excitement surrounding squash cultivation is palpable, indicating a potential transformation in the local agricultural landscape.