Home ›› 14 May 2023 ›› Nation
Many villagers in Moulvibazar’s Sreemangal upazila have become self-reliant by cultivating hybrid varieties of bitter gourd.
Parer Tong village in the upazila is now known for its expansive bitter gourd cultivation in the area. Wholesalers from different parts of the country visit the village to buy the vegetable and export it to other districts.
Tia and Tia-super distributed by Lal Teer Seed Ltd are the most commonly cultivated varieties in the area. Bitter gourd is cultivated on 30 hectares of land in Parer Tong village. About 10,000 kg of vegetable is sold for a wholesale price of Tk 50 per kg from the village per day during harvest season.
Bitter gourd is an early-yielding crop and produces more harvest compared to other vegetables. The hybrid Tia and Tia-super varieties are altitude and salinity tolerant and can be cultivated throughout the year except for winter.
These varieties are moderately bitter, soft and delicious. Each fruit is 28 to 30 cm long and weighs 250-280 grams. The yield rate is 12-13 tonnes per acre and can be harvested six to seven weeks after planting.
Farmer Nazrul Miah of the village said, “I was the first to start commercial cultivation of bitter gourd in Parer Tong. Many followed in my footsteps seeing my success. Now more or less every resident is involved in bitter gourd cultivation.”
He added that due to the early yielding hybrid varieties, he makes a good profit from bitter gourd cultivation.
Amena Begum of the village works as a day labourer in bitter gourd farms.
“I get a daily wage of Tk 200-300. Many women like me got employment opportunities thanks to the boom in bitter gourd cultivation. It is a blessing for landless people like me,” she said adding that children also work on farms in their free time as it is not labour-intensive.
Saju Mia, a wholesaler from Bahubal upazila of Habiganj, said, “I buy about 3,000 kg of bitter gourd at a wholesale price from Parer Tong village. I export the vegetables to different districts including Dhaka and Chattogram.”
He added that many wholesalers like him buy the vegetable from this village due to their demand all over the country.
Md Hamdul Haque, general secretary of Parer Tong Collection Point Bazaar, said wholesalers visit the market from different parts of the country every day.
“We set a price of the vegetable. I am also a bitter gourd cultivator, so everything is done with the farmers’ best interest in mind. About 10,000 kg of bitter gourd is sold from the market per day,” he said.
He expects more economic growth for the village through bitter gourd cultivation.
Tapas Chakrabarty, divisional manager of Lal Teer Seed Ltd, said previously the locals used to cultivate taro, spinach and other similar vegetables. But now almost the whole village is involved in bitter gourd farming.
“We encouraged the farmers to cultivate our company’s Tia and Tia-super varieties as they are high-yielding. Our field staff trained the farmers in planting seedlings, caring for plants and making lofts at affordable prices,” he said adding that they provide seeds at a low price to the farmers.
Agronomist Zaheer Ahmed said bitter gourd cultivation has boosted the economic development of the area. “Cultivation of this vegetable has created employment opportunities and self-social development. So far, bitter gourd cultivation has become an economic foundation for Sreemangal upazila.”
According to upazila Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Masuk Ahmed, bitter gourd worth Tk 1.4 crore have been sold from the village till now.
Sreemangal Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Md Mohiuddin said the production of bitter gourd is increasing day by day due to its profitability.
“Bitter gourd has been cultivated on 30 hectares of land in the upazila. Our field officers are always available to provide the farmers with all sorts of assistance as needed,” he said, adding that the production is higher than last year.
