Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
GOPALGANJ, Apr 23: The farmers of Raghunathpur union under Sadar upazila in the district except a high price of bitter gourd this season.
Sources said some 300 tonnes of bitter gourd of 'Cabari Captain' variety is expected to be produced this season.
A total of 52 hectares of land has been brought under bitter gourd cultivation in Sadar upazila, according to local agriculture office sources.
Tuhin Mollah, a farmer of Singarkul village, said he cultivated bitter gourd on 75 decimal of land this season at a cost of Tk 98,000.
"I hope I will get about 112 maunds of bitter gourd which market price is near Tk 224,000. One maund of bitter gourd is being sold at Tk 2,000," he added.
Prodip Halder, sub-assistant agriculture officer, told the FE that some 32 hectares of land was brought under bitter gourd cultivation in Raghunatpur union where 285 farmers are involved in this cash crop farming.
They get more profits from the bitter gourd cultivation. It is selling at Tk 45-50 per kg in local markets, he says.
"Bitter gourd is more profitable than other vegetables," Prodip added.
Prodip Biswas, a farmer of Raghunathpur village, told this correspondent that he cultivated bitter gourd on 33 decimal of land this season.
"If weather remains favourable, I will get about 50 maunds of bitter gourd."
Mafroza Akther, upazila agriculture officer, told the FE that a total of 52 hectares of land was brought under bitter gourd cultivation in Sadar Upazila.
The UAO further said bitter gourd farming was more profitable than other vegetables.
The farming of bitter gourd needs less investment but its return is big. Bitter gourd can be harvested only 110 days after its planting. So, farmers are more interested in its cultivation, she adds.
Suchitra Biswas, a female farmer of Silna village, said she cultivated 'cabari captain' variety of bitter gourd on 50 decimal of land. Its production is satisfactory.
Abdul Kadir Sarder, deputy director at the Department of Agricultural Extension in Gopalganj, has said that a total of 150 hectares of land has been brought under the bitter gourd cultivation in the district this year with a production target of about 2,058 tonnes.
Nearly 1,200 farmers, including women, are involved in the cultivation of bitter gourd.
The bitter gourd cultivation is increasing day by day in the region as soil and weather are favourable for its farming, the DD added.