ZCZC
BSS-09
BRINJAL-CHAR LANDS (with picture)
Phulbari farmers hoping better profits from early brinjal
RANGPUR, Sept 09, 2019 (BSS) – Like in many other char areas of Rangpur
agriculture region, local farmers are hoping for better profits from
cultivation of early varieties of brinjal on char lands in Phulbari upazila
of Kurigram during this Kharip-2 season.
Getting repeated bumper output with lucrative price during post floods
periods in recent years, char people have cultivated early varieties of
brinjal on over 100 hectares of land in the upazila alone.
Officials at Phulbari upazila agriculture office of the Department of
Agriculture Extension (DAE) said farmers of the upazila generally reap better
profits through cultivation of Rabi crops during the winter seasons.
However, cultivation of early varieties of brinjal has become popular on
char lands during the Kharip-2 seasons in the upazila to bring more profits
to farmers before commencement of the Rabi season from late October.
“The local farmers are cultivating early varieties of brinjal on own char
lands and char lands of others as sharecroppers to reap huge profits,” said
Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Md. Mahbubur Rashid.
The DAE is providing training, assistance and latest technologies to local
farmers to inspire them in cultivating early varieties of vegetables,
especially brinjal, on char lands after floods.
As a result, farmers of the upazila are expanding brinjal farming on vast
tracts of the char lands during the Kharip-2 season after floods on the
riverine areas in recent years.
“After recession of floodwater, sandy soil in char areas becomes more
fertile with deposition of alluvial soil making those suitable for
cultivating brinjal and other vegetables,” Rashid added.
The farmers have planted brinjal saplings on 100 hectares of char lands in
the upazila where tender brinjal plants are growing superbly now at the
flowering stage and farmers will start harvesting the crop soon to reap
better profits.
Talking to the national news agency, char farmers of the upazila said they
are hoping to harvest early varieties of brinjal from September 22 next to
get better profits and improve livelihoods and living standard.
“We spend Taka 20,000 for cultivating early varieties of brinjal on one
bigha of char land and sell the produce at Taka 80,000 to one lakh to earn a
net profit of Taka 60,000 to Taka 80,000,” said farmer Hashem Ali of Char
Kurushaferusha in the upazila.
Farmer Pulin Chandra of the village said profit becomes even higher if the
climatic conditions and extent of pests’ attacks remain within the tolerable
limits.
“Side by side with brinjal, we are intercropping early varieties of
vegetables like ‘Lal Shak’, ‘Mula Shak’ and ‘Pat Shak’ on the same land to
earn additional profits of Taka 5,000 to Taka 7,000 per bigha of land,” Pulin
added.
Farmers Monser Ali and Dhirendra Nath of Char Chawrabari village said they
are earning Taka 60,000 to Taka 70,000 excluding farming costs by cultivating
early varieties of brinjal on one bigha of land annually.
Sharecroppers Siddikur Rahman and Musa Hossain of the same village said
they have cultivated early varieties of brinjal on one bigha of char land
each after taking those lands on lease at Taka 10,000 per bigha of land this
time.
“We are expecting to earn Taka 50,000 as net profit per bigha of land
after completing harvest of early varieties of brinjal by October 15 next,”
Musa added.
Talking to BSS, Deputy Director at Rangpur regional office of the DAE
Agriculturist Md. Moniruzzaman said hundreds of farmers have attained self-
reliance by cultivating early varieties of vegetables on char lands at this
period in recent years.
‘Cultivation of early varieties of brinjal is increasing every year on
char lands in the region, including Phulbari upazila of Kurigram, following
repeated bumper production and lucrative prices of the produce in recent
times,” he added.
BSS/SPL/MI/MR/ 1443 hrs.