Home ›› 25 Feb 2023 ›› Nation
Locals of Khula have opened a new horizon in agriculture by making use of fallow and unused lands to cultivate various crops and vegetables with the help of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Both privately owned and government lands that were once barren are now being used to cultivate flowers and vegetables. With the help and advice of the DAE, the unused land has now become a great opportunity for the agricultural economy in the care of industrial workers, government employees and teachers-students.
According to Khulna DAE sources, there are 10,975 hectares of uncultivated fallow land in the city along with the nine upazila of the district. Meanwhile, some 1,430 hectares of fallow land have been brought under cultivation as part of a project to boost agricultural production.
Winter vegetables like tomato, cabbage, potato, corn, onion and other crops are being cultivated in the lands. The growers are benefited by selling them after meeting their needs.
Apart from this, sunflower and mustard are also being cultivated as DAE plans to boost oil crop production. Seasonal Rabi and Boro crops are also being cultivated in some areas. Fruits including papaya and watermelon are also being farmed.
The majority of lands are unused empty spaces of jute mills. In November and December 2022, 12 bighas in Crescent Jute Mill, three bighas in Khalishpur Jute Mill, two bighas in Daulatpur and Platinum Jute Mill, 20 bighas in Eastern, 2.5 bighas in Alim Jute Mill and 12 bighas in Star Jute Mill has been brought under cultivation.
Various vegetables and oil crops are being cultivated in these areas along with spice crops like onions, garlic, and coriander. Out of this, only some land of Star Jute Mill is being used for boro paddy cultivation.
Apart from this, cultivation of vegetables and oil crops has also started in the fallow lands of privately owned Afil Jute Mill Ltd, Mohsin Jute Mill Ltd and Ajax Jute Mill Ltd.
Abdul Khalek, a teacher of Maharajpur Government Primary School in Khulna’s Koyra upazila, said the DAE office encouraged and helped to cultivate onions and potatoes in the unused areas surrounding the school.
“Some other vegetables are also being cultivated. The employees take care of the crops and sell the harvest to the teachers and students at a low price,” he said.
Khan Md Kamrul Islam, project head of Crescent Jute Mill in Khalishpur said there are about two hectares of vacant land in the factory area.
“Sunflowers and mustard have been cultivated in the vacant land inside the residential area of the mill. Other than that, 300 papaya saplings have been planted in the factory area,” he said adding that they plan on planting 1,000 saplings in the future.
The official added that the employees of the mill have formed a fund to bear the necessary production cost. The harvest will be sold to the employees at a low rate.
According to Rupsha DAE sources, there are 619 hectares of fallow land in the upazila, but not all of it is cultivable.
Agriculture Officer Md Fariduzzaman said some 15 hectares of land in various places including the electrification board office, frozen shrimp factory, and some educational institutions have been brought under cultivation.
“We are conducting door-to-door campaigns and have a family nutrition garden project to boost interest in agriculture. However, many owners leave their cultivable land unused as they live somewhere else. It is difficult to bring those privately owned lands under cultivation,” Fariduzzaman said.
Khulna DAE Additional Deputy Director (Crop) Md Mosaddek Hossain said they are working towards expanding cultivation as per the instructions of the Ministry of Agriculture.
“We have taken initiatives to bring unused and vacant areas of both privately owned lands and government institutions under cultivation. The local DAE offices have provided assistance and advice on cultivation to encourage the populace further,” he said.
The official further added that seeds and fertilisers were also distributed free of charge as part of the project.
Kazi Jahangir Hossain, deputy director of the Khulna DAE said the agriculture office is assisting the farmers by providing them with tractor tillage.
“So far, about 13 per cent of fallow lands in the district has been brought under cultivation. We will continue our activities to ensure none of the lands in the district remains vacant,” he added.
Khulna Deputy Commissioner Khandaker Yasir Arefin told the Business Post that as a part of the project to bring vacant lands under cultivation employees of various organisations, jute mills and educational institutions are being encouraged to make use of the unused lands.
“It is necessary to make use of all available lands in the country so reduce our import dependency,” he added.
