Bitter gourd prices high in Bogura, Tangail

BOGURA, Feb 27: Bitter gourd farmers in the district are happy over the fair market prices.

A good number of grassroots growers said the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) supplied quality seeds among the cultivators to make the farming programme a success.

"We got an abundant production of the vegetable this season", they further said.

During a recent visit in Dupchanchia kitchen market, this correspondent found each kg of bitter gourd selling at Tk 80 to Tk 100 in the retail market and Tk 75 to Tk 78 in the wholesale market.

Cultivators started farming the item in December, while the harvest began the last week of the last week of January.

Sub-assistance agriculture officer of DAE Faridur Rahman said a good production of the vegetable has been achieved.

Farmer Abdul Hakim of Shibganj upazila said, "I have cultivated a high-breed bitter gourd variety on 22 decimals of land this year spending around Tk 12,000".

"I have already made a profit of Tk 23,000 and expecting to earn Tk 18,000 more", the grower added.

DAE officials said many grassroots farmers in the area have attained financial solvency by growing the item in their field.

Farming of the vegetable is profitable for high demand and price, they added.

Meanwhile, our correspondent from Tangail said: Bitter gourd growers of the district are making good profit this season for fair market prices.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Tangail, sources said growers have cultivated the item on a large scale of land as it is found more profitable than other vegetables.

Tangail is well-known for growing quality bitter gourd. Traders send the item to different districts across the country for high demand.

One kg of bitter gourd is sold at Tk 100 to Tk 120 in retail market, while Tk 300 to Tk 330 in the wholesale market.

Grower Mohammed Afaz Miah of Sadar upazila said prices of bitter gourd are high in the market.

"We are delighted over the market rate along with good production", the farmer said.

Sub-assistant agri official of DAE said the department supports the cultivators in every possible way so that they can achieve a good production.