Photo: Messenger
Zohra Begum, a housewife and renowned farmer from Rajarhat upazila in Kurigram district, has become self-reliant by cultivating various vegetables on her 40 decimals of land. Despite facing occasional losses, Zohra remained resilient and focused on farming with renewed enthusiasm. She surprised everyone by successfully cultivating bitter gourds using the mulching method with eco-friendly polythene, a first in her area.
Living in Mirerbari under Chinai Union of Rajarhat Upazila, Zohra faced significant challenges after having three daughters and two sons. Her husband, Mansour Ali, earned a meager income by buying and selling wood. To alleviate their poverty, Zohra joined various associations and received training in farming. She involved her children in farming and cultivated crops like potatoes, peppers, gourds, and bitter gourds, ensuring her family's sustenance and education.
Determined to innovate, Zohra introduced the mulching method for cultivating bitter gourds using eco-friendly polythene. This method was unfamiliar to the local community, who eagerly awaited its outcomes. Zohra shared, "I have suffered a lot in my life. When I got involved in farming, our family’s lack began to disappear. I managed to marry off my three daughters by selling these vegetables. This land saved me and gave me honor. Now, I live fairly well with my two sons."
By performing much of the labor herself, she minimized costs, preparing the land for only Taka 7,000. The mulching method allowed her to harvest bitter gourds a month earlier than usual, selling them at higher prices. Initially, she sold gourds for Taka 2,400 each. These medium-sized bitter gourds, in high demand due to their mild bitterness, enabled her to sell two to three mounds weekly, earning Taka 50,000 so far. She expects to continue selling for another 2-3 months.
Bhiddut Kumar Shaha, team leader of RDRS Rangpur division, noted that although bitter gourd cultivation is costly and susceptible to weather damage, the mulching method provides safer growth by protecting plants with high polythene covers. This program, supported by the Pally Karma Shahayok Foundation, aims to involve farmers in smart agriculture.
Rajarhat Upazila Agricultural Officer Saifunnahar emphasized that bitter gourd is now a high-value crop. Promoting awareness of the mulching method could significantly benefit farmers by enabling early and profitable cultivation of bitter gourds.
Messenger/Disha
