Farmers of Latifpur union under Gopalganj Sadar upazila are becoming financially solvent by growing a variety of arum, locally known as Latiraj, as it brings them good profits for low production cost.
The district office of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) expects a production of 240 tonnes of this vegetable cultivated on 50 hectares of land in Sadar upazila this year.
“I have cultivated the vegetable on 26 decimals of land spending Tk 25000 and earned Tk 100,000 last month, said Nagendranath Bain (53), a farmer of village Kacharipara.
Sources said about 1,000 farmers including women, under Gopalganj are engaged in Latiraj farming in the region.
Prodip Bala (42), another farmer of Latifpur village, said he cultivated it on one bigha (52 decimal) of land and got a record profit of more than Tk 0.35 million spending Tk only 55,000 for cultivation.
A favourable soil condition in the district has helped them gain good profits, Prodip added.
Nazma Haque, sub assistant agriculture officer (SAAO), Gopalganj, said the DAE has also provided all the necessary agricultural inputs among the farmers.
She added, this vegetable, filled with vitamin A & Iron, is gaining popularity in the region as it can be harvested within two and a half months of plantation.
