RAJSHAHI, Feb 24, 2020 (BSS) – Farmers have started growing vegetables
through using organic fertilisers like vermicompost instead of chemical ones
in the region including its vast Barind Tract.
Gardening around homesteads in the current season through using the
organic fertiliser has started gaining popularity among the people with
production of different fruits and vegetables in safe and hygienic ways.
Farmers at Premtali, Mohishalbari, Rajabari and Palpur villages under
Godagari upazila, Kharkhari, Katakhali, Chowbaria and Bargachhi villages
under Paba upazila and Halidagachhi and Nandangachhi villages under Charghat
upazila are producing vermicompost with earthworms and cow dung.
“I cultivated bottle gourd, cucumber and coriander on 16 decimals of land
beside our homestead by using organic fertilizer this year, and I got
expected production,” Abdul Hakim, a farmer of Baroipara village, said.
Anwar Hossain, 36, wife of Sabdul Mian in Darusha village of Paba upazila
said, “We have been producing chemical-free vegetables, using vermin-compost.
We are also selling some vegetables in the local market after meeting the
family’s demand.”
Banera Khatun, 40, a farmer at Alipur village in Durgapur upazila, said
chemical-free vegetables are in high demand at the village, and locals
purchase the vegetables at higher prices.
Ali Hossain, 48, of Mirganj village under Bagha Upazila said he cultivated
red leafy, bottle gourd, carrot, snake gourd and napa shak on 40 decimals of
land by using bio-fertilizer.
He is not to go to the local market for selling the vegetables, rather
villagers come to his home to purchase vegetables giving high prices, he
said.
If all the farmers grow chemical-free vegetables by using vermicompost on
their lands, it will meet people’s demand for chemical-free foods.
In the current winter season, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE)
set the target of producing around 18.72 lakh tonnes from 86,708 hectares of
land in all eight districts of Rajshahi division.
But, the farmers cultivated on 87,612 hectares of land and the production
exceeded the target, said Dev Dulal Dhali, Additional Director of DAE.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and Bangladesh Agriculture
Research Institute (BARI) have been providing necessary support alongside
need-based training and required inputs to the farmers to grow safe
vegetables.
Dr Shakhawat Hossain, Senior Scientific Officer of BARI, said a large-scale
promotion of homestead gardening is very important for getting regular cash
crops together with meeting the nutritional demands.
He added more people in general should come forward towards cultivating
vegetables, fruits and crops on the fallow lands surrounding their dwelling
houses and rooftops, which can ensure availability of fresh and chemical-free
fruits and vegetables.