Brahmanbaria farmers happy with bumper yield of pumpkin

The farmers of Brahmanbaria’s Bijoynagar upazila are happy with the bumper yield and good prices of pumpkin this season.

The yield has been good this year due to technical advisory support from the District Department of Agricultural Extension, farmers said.

Various varieties of pumpkin seeds including Sweety, Monika, Bangkok, Triple-7 and Sohagi have been cultivated in several other areas of the upazila along with 90 hectares of land in Lakshmipur, Pattan Shibir, Boropukurpar, Dattakhola, Golkhola, Lakshmimura, Monipur villages of Pattan union.

Due to low cost and high profit, pumpkin cultivation is increasing day by day in the upazila. Farmers started selling pumpkins in the market last week due to favourable weather. The farmers expect to become financially solvent through pumpkin cultivation.

Hamdu, a farmer of Dattakhla village of Pattan union, said pumpkin cultivation on one bigha of land costs about Tk 12,000, and this year he cultivated the vegetable on 20 bighas of land.

“I expect to get Tk 25,000-30,000 per bigha from selling pumpkins. As the vegetable can be harvested within 85-90 days of cultivation and has a long shelf life, I expect to make a good profit this season,” he said.

Farmer Azgar Ali of the same area said the market prices are good as he started selling his harvest last week.

Currently, farmers are selling pumpkins at a wholesale price of Tk 35-40 each at the markets of the upazila.

Bijoynagar upazila Agriculture Officer Shabbir Ahmed said pumpkin has been cultivated on 110 hectares of land in the upazila this season.

“The DAE has distributed various varieties of pumpkin seeds to the farmers as incentives to expand its cultivation. Our field officers are also providing them with advice and technical support,” he said adding that the yield has been good this season.

In this regard, Deputy Director of District DAE Susanta Saha said pumpkin yield in Bijoynagar upazila has been good this year due to favourable weather conditions.

“I have visited the fields to ensure the farmers are receiving due assistance from our department. The farmers are content with the yield this year,” he said.