Farmers of Netrokona haor cultivating sweet gourds

NETRAKONA: Growing vegetables in haor areas is not a common sight in Bangladesh. But for the first time, the cultivation of sweet gourd began on the highlands of Netrakona haor. And, the farmers are eyeing bumper yield of this vegetable item.

Sweet gourd cultivation has begun on 170 hectares of land in two upazilas of the district this year. The Department of Agricultural Extension is helping the farmers by proving them with technical support and suggestions.

According to the farmers, sweet gourd is being produced in six unions of Khaliajuri upazila and eight unions of Madon upazila. They are expecting more profit from sweet gourd cultivation than other crops.

Tara Mia, a farmer of Deosahila village, said, "I have cultivated sweet gourd on 18 acres of land. It has cost me around Tk 600,000, and I hope I will be able to sell them for at least Tk 1,100,000."

Hoping to get a huge profit, Sohag Mia, another farmer from Ashadpur village, said that he had cultivated sweet gourd in such a land which had been fallow for the last eight years. When contacted, Madon Upazila Agriculture Officer Ahsan Habib said, "We are trying hard to produce a variety of crops in the haor region. Sweet gourd is an excellent and profitable crop for haor area."