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Srimangal, a region renowned for its tea cultivation, is now emerging as a thriving hub for vegetable production, particularly bitter gourd, locally known as 'korola.' The Ashidron Union of the upazila has seen a significant rise in the number of farmers engaged in vegetable farming, with bitter gourd leading the way.
The village has earned a reputation as a safe vegetable village, with many referring to it as 'Korola village.' It has witnessed a transformation in vegetable production, with an impressive 12-13 tons of gourds being harvested daily.
However, bitter gourd isn't the only vegetable thriving in the village. A variety of crops are cultivated year-round, including pumpkin, cucumber, potato, shrimp, chichinga, gourd, and barbati. Coriander, data, red shallot, and radish are also grown under shade canopies.
Farmers proudly assert that all the vegetables produced in the village are safe and free from harmful chemicals. They adhere to the guidelines of the agriculture office, using methods like sex pheromone, yellow tape, and biological pesticides to manage diseases and pests.
According to sources from the agriculture office, vegetable cultivation is taking place on 40 hectares or 300 bighas of land in Parertong village. This has led to self-sufficiency among almost all the farmers in the village, and it has also created employment opportunities for 300 men and women.
Nazmul Hasan, a vegetable farmer from Parertong village, shared that he cultivated gourds on 60 bighas of land four months ago. He invested Tk 70,000 per bigha on fertilizers, seeds, bamboo, mats, and yarn. He expects to sell gourds worth about one and a half lakh rupees. Nazmul also mentioned that there are approximately 200 gourd farmers in the village, all of whom have benefited significantly from growing and selling gourds. He added that about 5/6 lakh worth of gourds are sold daily at the Tong collection point in Par.
Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Masukur Rahman, in charge of Parertong village at the Srimangal Agriculture Office, revealed that a collection point was established in 2019 to facilitate the sale of vegetables from Parertong village. Farmers bring their produce to this collection point daily, from where wholesalers purchase vegetables and transport them to various parts of the country, including Chattogram, Cumilla, Dhaka, and Sylhet. He also mentioned that there are about 200 vegetable farmers in the village, and 300 bighas of land are dedicated to gourd cultivation. The agriculture office provides guidance on ginger cultivation, variety selection, and pest control.
Md. Mohiuddin, the Upazila Agricultural Officer, highlighted that farmers bring gourds to the Parertong collection point daily, from where 12-13 tons are collected daily.
He further stated that from February to April, there is a significant opportunity to sell gourds worth one and a half to two crores of money from the village. Additionally, different varieties of vegetables are available at the collection point daily, which are then purchased by wholesalers and distributed across the country.
Messenger/Faria
