Home ›› 11 Feb 2023 ›› Nation
Abhinay Dev, a model farmer of Moulvibazar’s Sreemangal upazila is inspiring many others in the area with the success of his hybrid brinjal farming.
The farmer has cultivated the high-yielding hybrid variety Purple King on his 2 bigha land in Uttar Varaura village in Sreemangal union of the upazila.
A bumper yield of the vegetable has inspired many youths in the area to lean towards aubergine farming. Many farmers in the area are interested in cultivating aubergine because it costs less and is more profitable.
Local agriculturists expect that the bumper yield of this variety will help meet the shortage of aubergine in the local market during the month of Ramadan. Lal Teer Seed Limited, the distributor of this high-yielding variety of this vegetable, has taken an initiative to distribute the seed among the farmers of the area.
Purple King variety starts fruiting within 60 days of plantation and can be harvested soon afterwards. Harvested aubergines weigh about 150-180 grams each. Each plant can produce about 30 kgs of vegetables per year.
According to Abhinay, the initial cost of cultivating aubergine on two bighas of land was about Tk 70,000. He sold Tk one lakh worth of aubergine from the first harvest at the rate of Tk 23 per kg.
Abhinay harvests about 200-250 kg of aubergine every two days from his farm. The plants will fruit for seven more months, he said. He expects to make a good sale during the month of Ramadan as demand for aubergine is at its highest during that time.
Local farmers Nibas, Ripon and Malay Dev expressed their interest in aubergine cultivation after being inspired by Abhinay’s success. Many farmers in the area are planning to start cultivating the hybrid Purple King variety.
The successful farmer in question, Abhinay Dev, said he has made a profit of over Tk 30,000 from his initial sale excluding cultivation costs.
“There are currently four people employed on my farm. Even with the upkeep, fertiliser and labourers' wage, I expect to make a lucrative profit from my farm this year if the weather remains favourable,” he said.
Tapas Chakraborty, divisional manager of Lal Teer Seed Ltd, said this variety is high-yielding and tolerant to the weather and climate of this region.
“This variety can be cultivated all year round and thus is financially profitable for farmers. The vegetable is also delicious to taste and has good market demand,” he added.
Sreemangal upazila Department of Agricultural Extension Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Mohammad Saiful Islam said early yielding hybrid variety will benefit the farmers.
“Since more farmers are getting interested in aubergine cultivation, our office is providing them with the necessary training in this regard. We expect more uncultivated, vacant and fallow lands to be brought under cultivation,” he said adding that they are working towards increasing vegetable cultivation in the region.
