Sreemangal witnesses bumper yield of Balsam pear

There is only greenery and greenery across the vast area of Par Tong village. One is sure to be mesmerized by such an array of green. And the fame of this village has spread around by cultivating bitter gourd in the midst of this greenery. Due to the good yield every year, most of the farmers in the village are now turning to gourd cultivation. Farmers have got a bumper yield of gourds this year as well. About a decade ago, a few farmers started cultivation of bitter gourd in Tong village of that part of Ashidron union of Srimangal upazila of Moulvibazar district.

As soon as you enter the village, your eyes will be stuck on the bed of green. One after another gourd machang can be seen all over the area. Rows of thousands of gourds can be seen hanging under the canopy covered with green leaves. Many farmer families in the area are self-sufficient today by cultivating bitter gourd. Similarly, many men and women of the area are also benefiting by working in the karala fields as day-labourers.

Farmers of the area. Noor Islam, Harun Mia, Shafiq Mia, Masuk Mia, Amirul Islam and other gourd farmers are very happy with this year's bumper crop. Most of the farmers in the area have become confident in gourd cultivation. As a vegetable with special demand, the price is also getting unexpected. Farmers have benefited by cultivating Lalti seed Tia and Tia Super variety of gourd.

Bitter gourd farmers of this village said that commercial cultivation was started in the village of Tong on the first side by bringing the seed variety of red arrow seed. This is where success comes. After seeing the bumper yield, many people started cultivating bitter gourd. Now almost every house in the village is a gourd farmer.

Many have become self-sufficient just by cultivating gourds. Amena Begum, the housewife of the village, said, I don't have my own land. I earn 300/400 taka daily by working in other's fields.

A collection point market has been opened in the Tong area of the border for the sale of these gourds and other vegetables. Where every day numerous wholesalers from different parts of the country flock here to buy gourds.

General secretary of Tong collection point market. Hamdul Haque said, here we set a price. Wholesalers buy at this price.

He said that 8/10 thousand kg of gourds are sold daily from this collection point. Farmers started selling gourds at Tk 70 per kg. At present the average sale is said to be Rs.

Tapas Chakraborty, divisional manager of Laltir Seed Limited, said that farmers used to grow paddy, kachu, vines and other vegetables in this village earlier. Now almost every family is involved in gourd cultivation. We suggest to the people of this village to cultivate tia first, then tia super variety. Farmers got good yield by cultivating. We did not think that such a result would happen.

He said Corolla Tia and Tia Super are day neutral hybrid varieties. Altitude and salinity tolerant variety. It can be cultivated throughout the year except severe winters. Fruits are attractive green in color and moderately pitted. The fruit is moderately bitter, soft and delicious. Fruits are 28 to 30 cm long and weigh 250-280 grams. Its yield is 12-13 tons per acre. Harvesting can be started 42 to 45 days after planting.

Srimangal Assistant Agriculture Officer Masuk Miah said that the cultivation of gourd covers an area of about hundred acres in this village. Just as the farmers are becoming self-reliant by cultivating bitter gourd, the local men and women are benefiting by working in the gourd fields as daily wages.

Srimangal Upazila Agricultural Officer Agriculturist Md. Mohiuddin said, due to the profitableness of gourd cultivation, its production is increasing day by day. In Srimangal upazila this year more than 30 hectares of land has been cultivated. 90 percent of which are in Tong village of Par.

Cultivation of different varieties of bitter gourd has been done. This year there has been a bumper crop of gourd and the farmers are getting good prices too. We have provided various types of assistance to the farmers including fertilizers, seeds.

Farmers in the region are making a fortune this year as farmers are trained to encourage gourd cultivation and wholesalers from far and wide are coming to buy gourd directly from marginal farmers and local small traders. If this trend continues, the concerned are hopeful that the gourd farmers will be more profitable.

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