ZCZC
BSS-07
PUMPKIN-CHAR LANDS (with picture)
Pumpkin farming on char lands expanding in Rangpur region
RANGPUR, Nov 20, 2019 (BSS) – Cultivation of pumpkin along with other
winter crops in relay-method is being expanded every year on char lands
improving livelihoods of char people in Rangpur agriculture region in the
last eleven years.
Officials and experts of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE)
and NGOs said increasing number of char and riverside people are sowing seed
of pumpkin and other Rabi crops on sandy char lands and dried-up riverbeds in
full swing now.
After getting repeated bumper production and better prices in recent
years, char people are showing more interest in farming pumpkin with other
crops on char lands to earn huge profits also improving agro-economy in char
areas.
The DAE, Practical Action Bangladesh (PAB), RDRS Bangladesh, Gano
Unnayan Kendra, Solidarity and many other NGOs are assisting char people to
promote pumpkin farming on char lands and silted-up riverbeds to improve
livelihoods and change fortune.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh
Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid told BSS that some 45,000 poor char families
have changed fortune through farming pumpkin with other crops.
“With assistance of the DAE and RDRS Bangladesh alone, some 23,000 char
families have expanded pumpkin cultivation on char lands in around 300 char
villages of all five districts in Rangpur agriculture region,” he said.
“The char people are sowing pumpkin seeds on sandy char lands and
silted-up beds of the Brahmaputra, Teesta, Dharla, Kartoa, Ghaghot and other
rivers,” Rashid added.
Manager (Agriculture) of PAB Agriculturist Nirmal Chandra Bepari said
the organisation extended project assistance to over 22,000 char families
with the DAE support for expanding pumpkin cultivation on sandbars in 200
villages since 2009.
“Even after the expiry of the project two years back, char families are
producing pumpkin in the tune of over 1.30-lakh tonnes worth over Taka 130
crore annually with Taka 10 per kg price at the farmers’ level in the
region,” Nirmal said.
Talking to BSS, Abdur Razzaque, Morsheda Begum and Mahbub Alam of
riverside Char Paschim Mohipur village in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur
discussed their stories of winning extreme poverty through pumpkin
cultivation.
They are expanding cultivation of pumpkin with other crops like onion,
garlic, vegetables, green chili, squash, potato, brinjal, sweet potato and
other Rabi crops on the sandy char lands and dried-up riverbeds this season.
“We generally spend Taka 13,000 to 15,000 for farming pumpkin on 200
sandbars each and earn a net profit of Taka 20,000 to 25,000 annually after
completing harvests by May,” said Razzaque.
Hossain Ali of Dhushmara Char in Kawnia upazila of Rangpur said he sowed
3,200 pumpkin plants on char lands on the Teesta riverbed last year and
earned Taka 90,000 as net profit after selling his production.
“This time, I am sowing seed for 3,500 plants on sandbars aiming at
earning Taka one lakh,” he said adding everyone of his char village is
expanding cultivation of pumpkin with other winter crops on the dried-up
sandy riverbed,” Ali added.
Char people Fazlul Haque, Ajlema Begum and Mofizul Haque of Char
Balapara Kutirpar village of Lalmonirhat said they are cultivating pumpkin on
more char lands this year after achieving huge profits in recent years.
Deputy Director of DAE at its regional office Agriculturist Md.
Moniruzzaman said expanded cultivation of pumpkin with other Rabi crops and
repeated bumper output with lucrative price have brought char people out of
the vicious cycle of poverty.
BSS/SPL/MI/MMR/FI/ 1420 hrs