Photo : Messenger
Farmers in Sirajganj are beaming with satisfaction due to the early cultivation of cucumbers at a low cost, yielding a good price in return. The cucumber markets are bustling with wholesalers and sellers, thanks to the bumper crop.
Hundreds of tons are being sold daily from morning till evening. Cucumbers are being wholesaled at Tk 800 to Tk 900 per maund, and Sarsa at Tk 900 to Tk 1,000, which is three times more than the production cost. The favorable climate and the absence of plant diseases are attracting new farmers to cucumber cultivation every year.
The cucumbers, known as the grain storehouse of the northern region, are being supplied to various cities, including Dhaka, from to meet the local demand.
A visit to the Koyra Charpara field in Ullapara on Tuesday revealed farmers busy picking cucumbers. They were filling sacks in the cucumber fields, and buyers from far and wide, both wholesale and retail, were making purchases directly from the land.
Over the past month, farmers have been harvesting cucumbers and selling them in the market. Cucumber buying and selling have commenced in Charvardhangacha and Chaksha fields of Lahiri Mohanpur Union based on this season's harvest. Remarkably, farmers are not incurring any rental fees for selling their produce.
Farmers estimate that it costs between Tk 15,000 to Tk 18,000 to cultivate latex and cucumber per bigha of land. The latex produced from one bigha is fetching between Tk 27,000 to Tk 30,000. The cultivation process is relatively trouble-free, with fewer issues related to insects and spiders, making it an attractive option for farmers.
Local businessmen highlight that cucumber and cucumber cultivation occurs annually in different areas of the 9 upazilas of Sirajganj. Even after floodwaters recede, farmers cultivate on higher land. This hassle-free cultivation at a low cost enables farmers to earn a substantial income, leading to their contentment with the good prices they receive.
Bablu Kumar Sutradhar, Deputy Director of the District Agriculture Extension Directorate, mentioned that any crop is suitable for cultivation in Sirajganj. Cucumbers and cucumbers have been cultivated on 707 hectares of land in the district during the winter season. Upazila Agriculture Officers consistently support and encourage farmers, who, in turn, are attracted to cultivation due to the promising yields. It is anticipated that there will be more plantations in the future.
Messenger/Russell/Shahin
