GOPALGANJ, Feb 17: Good market prices have brought smile on the faces of bitter gourd farmers of Raghunathpur union under Sadar upazila in the district this season.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Gopalganj official sources, at least 185 hectares of land have been brought under the farming of bitter gourd in the district with the production target of 2,590 tonnes.
Some 1,200 farmers in the area are involved with the production of the vegetable, sources added.
Gobinda Biswas of Silna Purbapara village under Raghunathpur union of Sadar upazila said he cultivated bitter gourd on 48 decimals of land spending about Tk 44,000.
The grower said he got around Tk 0.15 million from the produce this season.
"I am expecting Tk 50,000 more from the rest of the production", he added.
Prodip Halder, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Raghunathpur union of Digarkul Block said a total of 50 hectares of land have been brought under bitter gourd cultivation in the union this season.
Growers are happy over the present market price, he added.
Gautam Adhikary of Silna village under Raghunathpur union said, "I am growing the vegetable on 64 decimals of land spending about Tk 58,000. I expect to get around 77 maunds of production if weather condition remains favourable."
Mizanur Rahman, upazila agriculture officer of Gopalganj Sadar, said soil and weather condition here are favourable for farming bitter gourd.
The official said bitter gourd is a popular vegetable here. A good number of growers grow the item round the year.
Animesh Biswas of Sadar upazila said he is growing bitter gourd on 60 decimals of land this season and expecting a good yield.
The grower said bitter gourd is selling at Tk 85 to Tk 90 per kg in the market.
Samir Kumar Goshwami, deputy director (Agriculture) of Gopalganj said bitter gourd is considered as a cash crop in the area.
The official said a good number of grassroots farmers in the district are engaged with the production of bitter gourd and they make a good profit from it, the official added.
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