ZCZC
BSS-14
BARIND-LAND-VEGETABLE (with picture)
Barind tract abounds with homestead, commercial vegetable farming
RAJSHAHI, Nov 3, 2019 (BSS) – Vegetable farming in both commercial and
homestead method is gradually increasing in the vast Barind tract as many
people are seen humming towards the farming leaving behind the high-
irrigation consuming crops.
Both acreage and production of various types of vegetables including
cauliflower, cabbage, bitter gourd, pointed gourd, cucumber and ladies finger
were increased significantly in the area during the last couple of years
benefitting the consumers in general.
Swapan Ali, 45, a farmer of Panchandar village under Tanore Upazila, has
become an icon of vegetable cultivation at his locality. His annual earning
is around Taka three to four lakh on an average at present.
He has started the vegetable farming with brinjal on only five decimal
of fellow land after failing to get irrigation water for Irri-boro farming
around five years back. His initial income was around Taka 20,000 that
allured him to expand the farming commercially.
Under the ‘Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM)’ project, more
than 12.58 lakh community people of 2.66 lakh households are being motivated
and encouraged towards vegetable farming to reduce the pressure on
underground water.
The project is being implemented by DASCOH Foundation at around 1,280
drought-hit villages in 39 Union Parishads and three municipalities of eight
upazilas in Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts since 2014, said
Jahangir Alam Khan, Assistant Coordinator of the project.
Sub-assistant Agriculture Officer Shamsher Ali told BSS that the
vegetable farming in Barind land is now plentiful. Farmers are seen sending
their fresh vegetables to different cities including the capital Dhaka after
meeting up the local demands regularly, he added.
Besides, acreage of the farming is increasing gradually due to more
income from small land.
Shariful Islam, Assistant Engineer of Barind Multipurpose Development
Authority (BMDA), said the farmers are seen humming towards vegetable farming
in the dried Barind land.
He also said the BMDA has been working to promote various less-
irrigation consuming crops including vegetables to lessen the gradually
mounting pressure on underground water.
Shamsul Haque, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture
Extension (DAE), said his field level officials and staff were given
instruction to promote various water-saving crops and vegetables through
community involvement in the area.
He said community involvement is crucial for sustainability of vegetable
farming activities. The potential farmers were given training in the
cultivation.
They are also being taught processing and growing methods that optimize
the nutritional value of foods.
Agriculturist Haque said varieties of vegetables are available in the
local markets round the years because of regular farming of the crops along
with other seasonal fruits and crops.
DAE and Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) have been
providing necessary supports alongside need-based training and required
inputs to the farmers to grow fruits and vegetables for their own consumption
and extra earning by selling those.
Dr Shakhawat Hossain, Senior Scientific Officer of On-Farm Research
Division of BARI, said use of vacant spaces for producing fruits and
vegetables has been seen as a potential means for gradual development in the
life of the downtrodden in the region.
He said the interested farmers, particularly the poor and marginal ones,
are being given preference to use BARI’s Tested Pattern Technology in their
gardening activities around homesteads. The farmers are producing traditional
fruits and vegetables round the year.
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